<<Print>>

The Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) on Thursday announced a number of measures the college has instituted to absorb large numbers of the backlog of students waiting to enter tertiary institutions this year.

     Officials of the University College said the move was in response to calls for Public Private Partnership (PPP) to support government in the training of human resource in the delivery of quality tertiary education to augment the number of public universities.

     President of GTUC, Dr Osei K. Darkwa, made the announcement at the 10th congregation of the college during which about 310 students graduated in various programmes at the Masters level in different fields.

     He said the current backlog of students waiting to enter into tertiary institutions is overwhelming and impose a huge responsibility on the college as a research institution to absorb and training them.

    “It is our responsibility to help build the nation’s human capital through the training of highly skilled manpower,” he said

     He said to demonstrate the college commitment to the PPP call, the GTUC has introduced three admission entries in a year - January, May and September as well as morning, afternoon, evening and weekend sessions.

     The college has also introduced what it described as “anywhere, anytime learning via our online programmes”, sell all year round admission forms and established multiple campus locations.

     The College has also responded to the development of skills gap between academic institutions and artisanship and has therefore established a Centre for Technical Education and Training in response to that need.

    “We recognise that not everyone will end up in a university, we also know that there is a huge skills development gap in the area of artisanship,” Dr Darkwa said.

    The centre offers three-month Accelerated Certificate Programmes in Multimedia, Information Technology and Engineering.

    “These programmes seek to equip students with relevant practical skills, which are key to current technological trends and advancements, thus making them employable and marketable.

     “These programmes are also ideal for self-starters who are looking for employable skills to start their own businesses,” he added.

    Authorities say the college is committed to make quality technology inspire education accessibility and has therefore established network campuses in five regions.

     It has also created sub-regional learning centres in Togo and Gabon and key centres and units to support teaching, learning and research.

     It also founded a centre of excellence in technology, research and transformational innovation expected promote world class research into technology in the sub region.

     He said, the centre is collaborating with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Meraka Institute, South Africa to undertake a project on TV White Spaces.

     The Project seeks to provide broadband accessibility using spectrum in vacant TV frequencies (referred to as TV White Space).

    Eight years after attaining accreditation, the university college has moved from a modest, humble and challenging beginning and, is now well positioned as an academic entity of quality and distinction, offering professional development programmes and quality tertiary education to more than 5000 students.