The Takoradi Technical University (TTU) has successfully churn out 6,166 graduates for the 2022/223 academic year.
The figure represents a 30 percent increase relative to last year. The event saw the graduation of the first batch of four-year Bachelor of Technology degree programmes.
In all, 11 persons were awarded Master’s degrees, 2,342 for Bachelor of Technology degrees while 3,169 were awarded Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates.
Also, 236 of the graduates received Diploma of Technology, 388 were awarded with Competency Based Training certificates, and 20 received certificates in short courses.
Furthermore, 24 students with disabilities – comprising 20 hearing-impaired students and four others with physical disabilities – were among the graduates.
This brings the total number of deaf graduates the university has produced to 164 since the establishment of the Disability Support and Services Unit in 2017.
“This number is the largest among all universities in Ghana during this period. This year commemorates five years since the establishment of the Disability Support and Service Unit for Deaf Education at the Takoradi Technical University,” he said.
“The integration of hearing-impaired students into the regular stream is unique with our university, but comes with the challenges of instructional transfer, language acquisition and the appreciation of abstract concepts. Nonetheless, the university remains committed to our agenda of pursuing an inclusive education that reflects the special needs of these exceptional learners at the university,” Vice Chancellor, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, said this at the 23rd Congregation of TTU in Takoradi.
He explained that with the advancement of information technology, the university intends to utilise assistive technology, including hearing aids and special laptops to assist in the transfer of classroom and workshop instruction to these special students.
However, he said the university requests the corporate world and the global community for funding for this purpose.
He announced that six new MTech programmes received accreditation for this year.
The accredited MTech programmes, he mentioned, are: “Innovation and Enterprise Development, Mechanical Engineering, Power Production Systems and Integration, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Mathematics and Statistics, Construction Engineering Management”.
Dr. Samuel Amo Tobbin, Chairman of TTU Counci,l said: “Our goal as a technical university, is to bridge the gap between academia and industry in order to render training that is in line with the requirements of national goals.
He appealed to the government, the Ministry of Education and the Western Regional Coordinating Council to come to the aid of the university in the provision of infrastructure in terms of lecture theatres, laboratories and workshops to help meet the ever-growing number of students in the university.
“As you enter into the world of work, remember that you are ambassadors of the Takoradi Technical University. Your attitude to work and general behaviour in your workplaces will determine how your employers will perceive the quality of training you received from this university. You must, therefore, demonstrate discipline and diligence at the workplace,” he advised.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, congratulated the management of TTU as well as the graduates. “I commend the university management for their efforts in providing students with the best education and ensuring that the programmes and courses prepare students for the real world.”
“The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and it is essential that we stay ahead of the curve in order to provide our students with the best education. This means constantly re-evaluating our programmes and making sure that they are in line with the latest industry trends and demands. It is important to adapt and brand programmes and review courses to suit the current global environment, so our graduates can be equipped with the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy,” he added.
“As you enter into the world of work, remember that you are ambassadors of the Takoradi Technical University. Your attitude to work and general behaviour in your workplaces will determine how your employers will perceive the quality of training you received from this university. You must, therefore, demonstrate discipline and diligence at the workplace,” he advised.
