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Technical Universities urged to be focused on mandate

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The Minister of State in-Charge of Tertiary Education Prof. Kwasi Yankah, has charged Technical Universities in the Country to stay true to their core mandate of producing graduates who are capable of solving tangible societal problems.

According to him, there is always the temptation for Technical Universities to imitate the traditional University system, but warned that such moves will defeat the purpose of the establishment of Technical Universities in the country.

Prof. Yankah was speaking at the investiture of Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah- Appiah as the first substantive Vice chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) in the Bono Regional Capital.

Prof. Kwasi Yankah, stressed the need for tertiary institutions to commit to the promotion of Innovation, practicality and inventions.

According to him, skills development in vocational and technical training is what will transform Africa and curb unemployment hence the government’s commitment to promoting Technical and Vocational education in the country.

He stated that the practical orientation of technical Universities make them a great avenue to nurture skills for business and industry as opposed to the traditional Universities which are more abstract.

He also warned against the temptation of Technical Universities trying to imitate the traditional Universities, saying the consequences of such moves, will be dire.

“One big trap that currently lures our new technical Universities to subvert their own essences and out of panic upset the institutional agenda it is the temptation at this foundational stage of growing our technical universities in the image of the traditional liberal arts universities and thereby subverting the national agenda.”

The investiture of the Vice Chancellor of the STU turned out to be a colorful ceremony. In attendance were government officials, members of the academia, friends, family and well-wishers who were there to support their friend and comrade.

Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah. Prior to his appointment as the first substantive Vice chancellor of STU, Prof. Adinkrah served as the Acting VC for three years.

Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah- Appiah first substantive Vice chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) in the Bono Regional Capital.

A native of Atuna in the Jaman South of District of the Bono Region, ING Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah also served as Vice Rector of the institution in the past.

He is a renowned Civil engineer whose contributions to civil engineering cannot be overemphasized.

In his induction speech he highlighted lack of funds for infrastructural development, an insufficient qualified human resource base, low research output and inadequate partnership with industry as some of the pressing challenges confronting the school.

These challenges he said has affected enrollment into the University negatively. Turning to his vision as Vice Chancellor, he stated the he will press forward with the development of electrical engineering which is the University’s prime focus to help push the industrialization drive of government through government’s initiatives such as the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F), Planting for Food and Jobs, (PFJ) and also the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda.

The Bono Regional Minister, Evelyn Kumi Richardson for her part, stressed that government is very committed to technical and Vocational Education and as such has provided 15 technical Universities and Technical Institutions with 50 million Ghana Cedis each, through  a 130 million dollar package from a Ghana-Chinese project facility for upgrades.

Story filed by Lawrence Many-Gyan

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