Technical universities have the potential to be major promoters and catalysts to drive government’s industrialisation agenda for transformational development; and as such, there is a need to adequately resource these institutions to deliver, Chairman of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) Governing Council, Ing. Dr. Kwame A. Boakye, has said.
“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 stated.
Ing. Dr. Boakye alluded to the fact that technical universities are expected to offer students the requisite practical training in specific disciplines that will mould 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 government for employment”.
He was speaking at a ceremony in Sunyani to launch ‘Strategic and Master Plans’ for the Sunyani Technical University (STU). The two policy documents spell out development of the university in the next five years (2020-2025), and development of the institution for the next 40 years respectively.
The STU Council Chairman added that: “The technical universities are expected to play a major national role in promoting and leading the practical application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation in Ghana. These are the critical drivers for socio-economic development of any country, and have helped transform societies to provide significantly improved living conditions.”
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene, who launched the two documents on behalf of the education minister, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, stated that government has set for itself the task of re-engineering technical and vocational education in the country, in accordance with modern trends and the dynamics of socioeconomic development.
The minister said: “There is a multi-pronged approach to the push for greater attention to TVET, as it has been the resolve of President Akufo-Addo’s government to make technical and vocational education a major component of Ghana’s educational curriculum”.
The Vice-Chancellor of STU, Ing. Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, said the new Strategic Plan has “eight priority Goals with 22 objectives and a number of strategies for achieving the university’s vision, saying: “The goals and strategies have been tactically imprinted to give quality to teaching, research, innovation and technology transfer; and practical training for staff and students through greater collaboration with industry, to create a platform for excellence in Engineering, Technology and TVET”.
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 role, as well as an improvement in the financial resource base – leading to the attainment of efficient operations and enhanced physical infrastructure development.
Besides, the Strategic Plan is expected to ensure an improved ICT infrastructure to support teaching, learning, research, innovation and invention; and sustained improvement in our flagship programmes to generate knowledge, technical and professional skills for national and global development, among others.
