GTUC affirms commitment to train employable graduates

By D.I. Laary, GNA
Accra, May 7, GNA - The Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) has echoed its commitment to offer continuous quality technology education focusing on graduates' skills development to better position school leavers for the competitive job market.

The College noted that professionals played integral part in speeding up socio-economic development of the country and would continue to introduce and run well-packaged courses that are relevant to industry actors and employers.

Dr Osei K. Darkwa, President of the University College, said this during the 13th congregation ceremony of the College held on the theme: 'The role of ICT in university teaching and learning.'

The ceremony witnessed the passing out of 192 post-graduate students out which 140 came out with certificates in industry tailored courses on the College's main campus at Tesano in Accra while 52 had theirs on Coventry University campus in the UK.

'Ladies and gentlemen, GTUC recognizes the intrinsic role that the nation's professionals play in the development process and is, therefore, committed to ensure that graduates really prepare for the fob market either to work on their own or work for institution to contribute to the human resource base of the country,' he said.

'The university continues to consolidate partnership programmes with a number of national and international institutions as a way of building capacity and making its programmes relevant and in tune with both internal and global developments,' Dr Darkwa said.

He said the growing demand for access to tertiary education in the country puts a lot of pressure on public universities and this has made private sector participation in delivering quality education imperative.

The College has opened network campuses in five regions and established sub-regional learning centres in Togo and Gabon to complement efforts at making technology education more accessible to vast number of senior high school leavers at the local and sub-regional levels.

The College is also working closely with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Meraka Institute in South Africa on TV White Spaces to provide broadband accessibility using spectrum in vacant TV frequencies - TV White Space.

The President highlighted the need for life-long education and asked students to seek constant knowledge as well as sustain their quest for new ideas as essential ingredients of education, stressing that the person 'who does not know can know from learning.'

Officials say they are optimistic of the College's future of becoming world-class technology institution but expressed regret that funding challenges hampered their quest to successfully complete several development initiatives including library, laboratories and hostel.

'There is the need to raise funds to expand our programmes and projects, funds to improve on our physical presence in terms of infrastructure and the quality of service,' Dr Darkwa said.

'I, therefore, use this opportunity to solicit for support from individuals, corporate Ghana and philanthropists to be able to deliver on pending projects and programmes.'

GNA