Sunyani Technical University Inaugurates Faculty Advisory Boards

The four Faculty Advisory Boards (FABs) for Sunyani Technical University (STU) have been jointly inaugurated to provide guidance to the Departments, under the respective Faculties, to develop industry-driven academic programmes.

It will help review existing programmes to make them relevant to the needs of the industry to meet national aspirations, among others.

The FABs are also to “provide advice to the Faculty Boards on matters related to training, research and capacity building of staff and students” as well as “serve as vital communication linkage between the respective Faculties and the University on one hand, and the respective industries and institutions both locally and internationally on the other hand, for purposes of collaborative endeavours.”

Inaugurating the Boards at the University’s main conference hall in Sunyani, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ing. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah recalled that “the journey to constitute FABs with the subsequent appointment of its eminent members from industry and academia started about two years ago.”

He stated that members of the FABs are people of reputable stature and experience, drawn from academia and industry, saying, “these are experts with the requisite knowledge, skills, values and valuable depths of network and constructive connections much needed in contemporary higher education management for policy, programme, staff development, resource mobilization, industry and academia collaboration, and many others.”

Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah said the FABs have been constituted to provide valuable guidance and advisory support to the faculties to advance the vision of the University.

He further said the University was setting itself up to be a top-notch technical university delivering par excellence education, hands-on training and cutting-edge research and innovation to drive local, national and global sustainable development in accordance with its mandate.

“It is in response to this that the Management of the University has set up Advisory Boards for the existing Faculties to help bring professional expertise to bear on the activities of the Faculties especially in the areas of curriculum development and delivery.

“Also, STU seeks to position itself as a strong Applied Research Institution to provide solutions to the numerous challenges in Industry and society, contributing to societal sustainable development,” Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah emphaised.

Membership of the FAB for the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology (FAST) include Daniel Amaning Danquah of the Pharmaceutical Council; Prof. Asiedu Addo of the University of Education, Winneba; Dr. Augusta Adjei Frimpong of the Faculty of Vocational Education, UCC; Robert Mensah, the General Manager, Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani and Mr. Yaw Gyan CEO, Botin Farms, Wenchi.

Members of the Faculty of Engineering’s Advisory Board are Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah, Provost, College of Engineering, KNUST; Prof. Eric Kwabena Forkuo, Dean, Faculty of Civil & Geomatic Engineering, KNUST; Emmanuel Kweku Asiedu, CEO, Gratis Foundation, Accra; Mr. Kusi Amponsah, Area Manager, VRA NEDCo, Techiman; Mr. Cosmos Tadzo, Network Operations Manager, Huawei Ghana Limited and Mr. Joseph Adom, CEO, J. Adom Company Limited.

Ernest Osei Tutu, Head of Built Environment Division, Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI), Fumesua; Arc. Isaac Kwadwo Amankwa, Principal Director, IKA Consult, Sunyani; Dr. Bakari Atta Nangtomah, Deputy Director, Forestry Commission Training Centre, Ejisu, Dr. Joe Adu-Agyen, Senior Lecturer, Department of Art Studies, KNUST, Kumasi and Michael Asare Yeboah, the CEO, Mekanzie Sports Wear Ltd, Sunyani constitute members of the Advisory Board for the Faculty of Built and Appiled Arts.

Membership of the FAB for the Faculty of Business and Management Studies is made up of Prof. Daniel Obeng-Ofori, Vice-Chancellor, Catholic University College, Fiapre; Dr. David Asamoah, Head of Department, Supply Chain and Information Systems, KNUST, Kumasi; Mr. Sam Bennett, CEO, Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani; Mr. Obed Asante, CEO, Ghana Nuts Limited, Techiman and Elder Kwame Appiah-Baah, Formerly with National Board for Small Scale Industries, Sunyani

Also at the event, the University launched its Research and Innovation Fund.