Sumbrungu (UE), July 26, GNA – The newly converted Bolgatanga Technical University has introduced a new Bachelor of Technology and High National Diploma (HND) programmes, set to be rolled out beginning 2020/2021 academic year.
Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, the Interim Vice-Chancellor of the University announced it at the 8th graduation of the University and noted that the new university was determined to produce high standard and quality solution-oriented graduates who will offer solutions to address societal problems for sustainable national development.
The programmes include four-year Bachelor of Technology in Hospitality Management, Ecological Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering, Civil Engineering and Building Engineering.
The others are one and half-year, top-up Bachelor of Technology, in Computerized Accounting, Marketing, Secretaryship and Management Studies, Supply Chain Management, Hospitality Management, Ecological Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering, Civil Engineering and Building Engineering.
The rest are HND in Automobile Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Medical Laboratory Technology and Banking and Finance.
Professor Alnaa explained that the new programmes would not only allow more students to be admitted into the institution but would also provide opportunities for students to make their choices of programmes.
The Interim Vice-Chancellor explained that the University was committed to offering quality training and skills development to its students to ensure they were self-employed, fit well into society as well as acquire the needed knowledge for the job market and significantly reduce unemployment.
To achieve this, he said the University was pursuing vigorous staff development and capacity building and added that 24 members of staff were pursuing Doctor of Philosophy in various Universities across the globe, 15 of whom completed and returned to post while six Associate Professors had added to the school.
While commending government for granting the university the opportunity to recruit about 31 staff in November 2019, he said more was still needed.
“Though this number will augment our staff strength, it is still inadequate to meet our staffing needs for the various departments since we are bringing more programmes on board as well as the unavoidable arrival of the free SHS graduates,” he noted.
He also appealed to government through the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to take urgent steps to conduct a staff audit of the university to pave way for the migration onto to Single Spine Salary Structure of public universities.
“This will forestall the growing grumbling and murmurings among staff and motivate them to put in their best. It will further give hope to the newly recruited staff to stay on and not return to their places of origin or seek greener pastures in other analogous institutions.”
About 362 students including 204 males and 158 females, who pursued various programmes at the university and completed in 2019, were awarded Bachelor of Technology, High National Diplomas and Professional Diplomas.
Professor Alnaa urged them to cultivate the virtues of hard work, perseverance, dedication and discipline to overcome all hurdles and strive for excellence and integrity in their lives.
GNA