The Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) has launched a 10-year strategic development plan to steer the institution into becoming the preferred technical university in the country.
The strategic plan, which spans between 2023 – 2032, when implemented, is expected to guide the university to introduce innovative programmes of study that will lead to producing graduates equipped with the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) skills relevant to survival and sustainable economic development.
Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof. Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, in his address at the launch event, explained that in order for the university to achieve its mandate under Act 2016 (Act 922), excellent higher education in Engineering, Science, and Technology-based disciplines, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Applied Arts and other related disciplines must be offered.
He announced that, among others, the strategic plan is aimed at increasing access, enhancing quality education, improving financing, and ensuring effective governance and management. Additionally, these strategic priority areas would support the university’s commitment to achieving excellence in its core functions of teaching/learning, knowledge dissemination, and exchange in addition to stakeholder engagement.
“As a TVET institution, it is the university’s belief of not only equipping students with technological skills for their future careers, but also inculcating in them critical minds, concern, and respect for humankind and nature as well as an in-depth understanding of the world,” he intimated.
Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee Prof. Theophilus Azunga mentioned that the strategic plan puts forth a key aspiration for the university to become a leading technical university in Ghana and beyond, producing skilled, knowledgeable and employable graduates in various disciplines for industry.
“To realise this aspiration, the university will promote effective and quality teaching/learning, research, community service, and resource mobilisation. The first phase of the strategic plan, which spans from 2023 to 2027, would aim at positioning the institution to become a leading technological university while the second phase, 2028-2032, will seek to consolidate the gains made thereof,” he said.
The university, he noted, as part of the plan, had developed seven strategic priority areas that seek to increase student enrolment, taking into account diversity, quality and equity, improving infrastructure, facilities and services for teaching, learning and research, strengthening and improving teaching, learning, research and community service, and improving internationalisation and stakeholder collaboration.
Others include strengthening ecological agriculture through research, teaching/learning, training, and extension services, improving resource mobilisation & utilisation, and improving corporate governance and management systems.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, who graced the occasion, lauded the management of the university for coming out with such good initiatives to help the growth of the university and challenged the university to conduct proactive research that will be capable of addressing the challenges confronting the region and beyond.
The occasion attracted stakeholders from academia, Ghana Education Service, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, students, among others.
