A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has signed for a tripartite partnership between the Wa Polytechnic in Ghana, the University of Kara in Togo and SE International, a US registered NGO.
A tripartite project management team is also in place to see to the implementation of the project activities to the benefit of the partners.
The dignitaries that appended their signatures to the MoU at a two-day meeting in Wa were the Acting Rector of Wa Polytechnic, Iddrisu Ngmenipuo Mohammed, the Secretary-General of Kara University, Pawuobadi PIDABI and the Chairman of Social Entrepreneurs (SE) International, Francis Gyata.
The Acting Rector, Mr. Mohammed thanked SE International for providing innovative solutions to problems that “we have in our countries”.
He observed that there is a necessity for higher education institutions to partner for their mutual benefits.
The Secretary-General of Kara University, Pawuobadi Pidabi was very much elated about the partnership and recalled the visit of the delegation from Wa Polytechnic to Togo as part of the ground work for the collaboration.
He reiterated that collaboration is the watchword in tertiary education, saying internationalization and cross-border education are key in sharing experiences.
Mr. Pidabi who was the head of a five-man delegation from Togo that signed the MOU indicated that Kara and Wa have similar geographical characteristics and expressed the hoped that the two institutions can utilize their partnership to surmount the challenges confronting their respective areas and countries.
He was equally thankful to the Wa Polytechnic authorities for constantly checking on them whilst the Kara delegation was on its way to Wa.
The Chairman of Social Entrepreneurs (SE) International, Francis Dzata observed that quite a number of universities are lethargic in making things to happen.
He challenged academic institutions to break from the traditional ways of doing things and emphasize on what he termed innovative solutions and entrepreneurship.
He intimated that doing away with traditional ways, will help produce graduates with entrepreneurial skills who will not depend on others for work but will be job creators.
Mr. Dzata pointed out that SE International will serve as a catalyst by providing the needed technical for the success of the partnership and conveyed warm greetings from his Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Morris Aliya to the meeting.
The Head of the Department of English of the Kara University, Dr. Tchilabalo ADI who made a presentation said the University of Kara has more than 18 thousand students and 197 academic staff with more than 400 administrative and other supporting personnel.
He said the University of Kara runs bachelors and masters programmes and well as professional courses and stated that the University has Faculties of Arts and Humanities, Law and Political Sciences, Economics and Management, Technical Sciences and Health Sciences among others.
Dr. ADI disclosed that University of Kara has various international partnerships with educational institutions in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.
A Senior Lecturer of the Wa Polytechnic and Member of the Tripartite Project Management Team, Dr. Solomon A. Dansieh also made a presentation on his institution. He said the Polytechnic has a vision: To become a world-class centre for applied science and technology training for rural poverty reduction and national development.
Dr. Dansieh announced that the Wa Polytechnic has over 200 acres of land for future development, expansion and for agricultural research, training and extension.
The senior lecturer spoke about conversion of polytechnics in Ghana to technical universities and expressed the expectation that Bolgatanga and the Wa Polytechnics will soon be converted to complete the cycle of conversion.
The Wa Polytechnic has four (4) Schools, namely: Business School, School of Engineering, School of Applied Science and Technology and lastly, School of Applied Art, Design and General Studies. Currently the Polytechnic runs 13 major HND programs.
Some of them are: Accountancy, Agricultural Engineering, Building Technology, Civil Engineering, Estate Management, Secretarial and Management Studies, Mechanical Engineering, ICT and Electrical Engineering. Giving some statistics, Dr. Dansieh stated that the Polytechnic has a student population of 850 and 130 staff of which 50 are non-academic.
SE international also made presentation on its activities.
The vision of SE International is to create a proper environment for small and medium size entrepreneurs to succeed, build capacity for private, public institutions and NGOs; boost the cultural, educational and technical exchange worldwide.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
