We need to lead by example to find jobs for graduates

General news for Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Source: Ghana Guardian

12/15/2020

University of Ghana Pro-Vice Chancellor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo urged the government to “lead by example” as the country continues to produce more graduates in the business environment.

She urged the country’s technical universities to stick to their mandate and focus on quality entrepreneurs to supply the mid-to-high level workforce the nation needs to move forward.

She gave the guidance during the first (virtual) session of the 13th Congregation for Bachelor of Technology programs at Sunyani Technical University (STU).

Nana Amfo called on the government to recognize graduates of technical universities in their placement and create an enabling environment that would allow individuals to create sustainable jobs.

“Believe me, successful entrepreneurship doesn’t depend as much on our course structure as it does on the business environment. Now that it is quite clear that it is impossible for the public sector to absorb all of the graduates that we produce, the government must take the discourse on entrepreneurship to the next level of practice ”, a- she stressed.

“We need to lead by example and put our money where we are,” added Nana Amfo, and reminded graduates that “the life of a technical graduate can be unpredictable, grueling and exhausting. But all of this offers moments of opportunity to bring real change and valuable service to our communities and to the world ”.

She said traditional universities should think about what employable skills they could infuse, when introducing new programs, saying “you already have this, and you don’t have to lose it”.

A total of 389 graduates obtained a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology, TVET, applied science and technology, applied arts as well as business and management at the ceremony under the theme “Technical and vocational training: the key of sustainable job creation in Ghana ”.

STU Vice-Chancellor Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah explained that the university had obtained accreditation to manage seven new four-year BTech programs, which would be launched in January 2021.

They understand; BTech Mechanical Engineering, BTech Civil Engineering, BTech Construction and Technology, BTech Hospitality and Tourism Management, BTech General Agriculture and BTech Fashion Design Technology.

These programs, Prof Adinkrah-Appiah explained, would run alongside the 11 complementary BTech programs existing at the university, adding that the institution had also been approved to introduce five other four-year BTech programs, while six others were pending at the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE).