By Prince Acquah
Cape Coast, June 24, GNA – The Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) has launched a six-course honours certificate programme, to equip students with imperative soft skills to complement their technical training.
The programme has been designed to enhance the personal and professional capacity of students and produce industry-ready graduates, groomed to lead with integrity, speak with clarity, and project their ideas and ideals with confidence.
The courses comprise Confidence Building and Public Speaking, Social Media Marketing, Organisation and Leadership, CV Writing and Interviewing Skills, Computer skills, as well as Etiquette, Grooming and Personal Branding.
It will be piloted over a six-week period with 30 students shortlisted from across all departments after which it would become a mandatory course for all students.
Professor Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, explaining the rationale behind the new programme, underscored the importance of soft skills and integrity in today’s job market.
He said although academic excellence was good, employers today prioritised graduates with integrity, confidence, honesty, creativity, leadership skills, and innovation.
The programme was thus, aimed at the total development of the students to give them competitive advantage and set them apart from their peers, he said.
The VC stated that although reviews from various industry players suggested that graduates of CCTU were technically competent, they lacked industry readiness, with emphasis on appearance, presentations and communication.
“We intend to mainstream this into the academic programme, and it will be mandatory after it has been successfully piloted. If you don’t pass the soft skills, you will not graduate,” he said, firmly.
He hinted that the school would also issue a directive on dress code soon.
Prof. Boakye intimated that the new programme demonstrated the University’s commitment to holistic education, urging students to be “intentionally excellent,” to move CCTU from “good to great”.
He entreated the first cohorts to take the lessons seriously, indicating that it was their opportunity to stand out.
Mrs Anita Ohene-Darko, the Head of Counselling Unit, CCTU, underscored the importance of the programme to the empowerment of students to reach their full potential, serving the purpose for which they were being trained.
“My advice to them is that they take the course seriously and ensure that they are present throughout all the topics,” she advised.
Prof. Sophia Pardi Ocran, the Dean of students Affairs, CCTU, said the initiative was in line with the school’s strategic plan to equip students with diverse skills, to make them the choice on the job market.
Among other things, she said the programme would augment the career prospects of students through proper branding and cultivating online presence.
“Students should expect to be well equipped with organisational and leadership skills and be able to speak confidently,” she said.
“Some of them are not well vested in computer skills and so the programme will shape and adequately prepare them for the job market,” she added.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/ Christabel Addo