Government has intensified efforts at providing both infrastructure and human resources to Technical Universities.
This forms part of government’s frantic efforts at supporting Technical Universities succeed in their resolve to provide opportunities for skills development and applied research. It is therefore important for Technical Universities to conduct applied research that would yield practical benefits as they prepare their students for the world of work.
The Chief Executive officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corperation, GNPC, Dr. K.K Sarpong gave this assurance when he delivered the keynote address for the dual ceremony of the induction into office of the first Vice Chancellor and the 16th Congregation of the Koforidua Technical University over the weekend.
Dr. Sarpong therefore admonished the University to train technical manpower for the human resource of the nation as well as equip students with hands-on practical and entrepreneurial skills to meet the human resource needs of various sectors of the economy so as to ensure the realization of this mandate.
He emphasized that, since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, the world has seen young men and women who have had technical and vocational education come up with many gadgets to augment what was on the market for keeping the safety protocols with many developing mechanized hand-washing machines in Ghana. He hoped that some of the graduates of the University will find that is if they, if they have not already found, a niche to put their technical skills and expertise to use for economic gains and for the good of mankind.
Dr Sarpong admitted that even thought, technical education at the tertiary level is quite expensive with the capital expenditure for plant and equipment usually high, there is no easy way of achieving the objectives of Competency Based Training (CBT).
Therefore, if technical education at the tertiary level must be relevant, basic tools and equipment must be provided. To this end he encouraged stakeholders of technical education to ensure that Technical Universities are well resourced to meet the policy objectives of Competency Based Training.
According the CEO of the GNPC, since the world’s new normal also demands that Technical Universities adopt and adapt to technology in order to remain competitive on the tertiary education landscape, it is core for the Vice Chancellor to be innovative and technologically-minded to be able to lead the University into a prosperous future.
“Train your faculty to be IT literate; set aside part of your budget to provide IT facilities to enhance the work of staff and students; and do these while still ensuring quality and integrity in the delivery of teaching and examinations”. Dr Sarpong said.
He charged the new Vice Chancellor, to redirect his collaboration with industry for mutual benefit as well as be proactive and also to take bold steps to encourage industry to see the worth of Technical University education. “Do not sit in your office and expect Industry to come to you. Be determined to engage industry in the development of your curricula and seek placement of your students for experiential learning.
In this way, your students will be better equipped after graduation to fit into roles they find themselves”. He advised. Adding that “package yourself well, not only as a Vice Chancellor but also as Chief Executive in all aspects, so you can engage effectively with people at high places of Industry at the same level.
It is excellent to be a researcher, but it is also time for you to be a Chief Executive”. This Dr. Sarpong said is important because, it is common knowledge that the world’s economy is in crisis because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has compelled many corporate organizations and businesses to fold up. What this therefore means is that, support and sponsorship from corporate social responsibility models will dwindle. But this situation should not deter the University from courting and collaborating with industry. “Now is the time to strengthen your relationship with industry and build new partnerships,” he pointed out.
Dr. Sarpong congratulated Professor David Kofi Essumang, on his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University.
