Council chairman calls for Technical Universities to be resourced for industrialization drive
The Chairman of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) Governing Council, Ing. Dr. Kwame Agyeman Boakye has called on government to provide the needed support and orientation to Technical Universities in Ghana to lead government’s industrialization and transformation drive.
He believes that since Ghana’s Technical Universities are strategically positioned throughout the country, they form natural technology nodes for our national development. “However, to make this successful, the Technical Universities must be appropriately managed, directed, resourced and supported”, he emphasized at the official launch of the STU Strategic and Master Plans at a ceremony in Sunyani.
Ing. Dr. Boakye explained that Technical Universities are expected to offer students the requisite practical training in specific disciplines that would mold them into resourceful entrepreneurs, adding that “these Universities must provide the bulk of our people with an education that is practical and forward-looking in approach, so as to train students who can create jobs rather than rely on the Government for employment.”
“The Technical Universities are expected to play a major in leading and promoting practical application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation in Ghana. These are the critical drivers for the socio-economic development of any country and have helped to transform societies to provide significantly improved living conditions.”
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Ing. Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah indicated that the new Strategic Plan has “eight Priority Goals with 22 Objectives and a number of Strategies for the achievement of the Vision of the University.”
He said the goals and strategies have been tactically imprinted to give quality to teaching, research, innovation and technology transfer, practical training for staff and students, through greater collaboration with industry, to create a platform for excellence in Engineering, Technology and TVET.
Future Expectations
The Vice-chancellor said when successfully implemented, students and staff of STU are expected to witness a major improvement in the overall governance system to enhance clarity of structure and roles as well as an improvement in financial resource base, leading to the attainment of efficient operations and enhanced physical infrastructure development.
The Strategic Plan is also expected to help enhance ICT infrastructure to support teaching, learning, research, innovation and invention; and sustained improvement in the University’s flagship programmes to generate knowledge, technical and professional skills for national and global development, among others.
TVET – Govt’s priority area
Madam Justina Owusu Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister who launched the two documents on behalf of the education minister stated that the government has set for itself the task of re-engineering technical and vocational education in Ghana to be abreast with modern trends. “In furtherance of this, President Akufo-Addo has commenced work on the upgrade and modernization of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The ‘Strategic Plan’ which spells out the development of the University in the next five years (2020-2025) is the third in the series since its establishment in 1967 as a Technical Institute and later as a Polytechnic in 1997 before it was converted to a university in 2016. The ‘Master Plan’ focuses on infrastructural development of the institution for the next 40 years.
(STU PR Unit)