The Design and Technology Institute (DTI) has launched an Alumni Ambassador initiative to mobilise its graduates as visible advocates of the Institute’s values and as champions of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) across industry and communities.
The inaugural Alumni Ambassador Workshop and Launch held in Accra, convened graduates from diverse professional fields for dialogue, capacity‑building and action planning on how to strengthen DTI’s visibility, partnerships and influence.
Opening proceedings, Mr Emmanuel Kojo Ampomah, Principal of DTI, underscored the centrality of alumni to the Institute’s mission.
“What makes a good school is not its infrastructure alone, but the quality of the lives that are transformed,” he said, adding that the true proof of DTI’s impact “is in you, the alumni”.
He encouraged graduates to uphold DTI’s values in their conduct and careers and to “pass it forward” by mentoring others and creating opportunities.
Mr Karl Adu Dankwah, President of the DTI Alumni Association, led a session on “The Global Rise of Skills and Craft”, highlighting persistent skills shortages and the growing premium on industry‑aligned training.
Citing trends from advanced and emerging economies, he noted that apprenticeship systems and renewed investment in TVET are widening opportunities for skilled technicians.
He urged alumni to be visible, exemplary and active in telling their TVET stories to restore dignity to blue‑collar work and bridge gaps between industry and training.
The main workshop, facilitated by Dr Olubunmi (Olu) Ajayi of Madison Pine UK, focused on ambassadorship, leadership identity and influence. She said DTI ambassadors are “lifelong institutional representatives whose conduct, values and professional excellence reflect the DTI brand,” adding that effective ambassadorship requires confidence, credibility, training and intentional personal development.
“Ambassadors carry DTI with them everywhere they go,” Dr Ajayi noted.
She emphasised mastery of technical competence, critical and strategic thinking, problem‑solving, continuous learning and digital awareness—including emerging applications of artificial intelligence, robotics and augmented reality in technical fields.
Beyond skills, she framed ambassadorship as visible behaviours: reliability, professionalism, respect for protocols, curiosity and constructive engagement beyond one’s job description.
Dr Ajayi distinguished ambassadorship from marketing, describing it as the natural reflection of DTI’s values through work and conduct.
“The most impactful people do not need to announce themselves—your work speaks,” she said.
She encouraged alumni to embrace feedback, communicate confidently and continually reinvent themselves to stay relevant as industries evolve.
Midway through the programme, Mr Michael Osei Aboagye, Communications and Engagement Officer, formally introduced the DTI Alumni Ambassador Initiative, outlining expectations and the strategic role of alumni in strengthening the Institute’s footprint across sectors and communities.
A joint reflection and question-and-answer session, led by Dr. Ajayi; Mrs. Amy Fafa Awoonor, DTI board chairperson; and members of the alumni and interns explored pathways for sustained engagement, mentorship and industry collaboration.
The alumni shared personal testimonies under the theme “Alumni Voices: Pride, Growth and Giving Back,” with contributions from One Mastercraft, One DTI, the Precision Quality (PQ) programme and the Internship Programme, reaffirming commitments to serve as mentors and advocates.
Participants later undertook group action‑planning. In closing remarks, Mr Ampomah urged alumni to “move forward with purpose and consistency,” while Mrs Amy Fafa Awoonor, a member of the DTI Board, commended the initiative as a timely step to amplify DTI’s impact through a strong, active alumni network.
Organisers said the launch comes amid rapid shifts in Ghana’s labour market and evolving industry needs, where strong alumni networks are increasingly vital to institutional growth, partnerships and skills development.
The programme is supported by the Mastercard Foundation under its Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young Africans—especially women—to access dignified work by 2030.
They added that the Ambassador Programme marks a strategic repositioning of the alumni body as a key driver of DTI’s visibility, leadership and continental aspirations as a Pan‑African Centre of Excellence in TVET.
