By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, April 7, GNA – The Accra Technical University on Tuesday launched its five-year strategic plan (2026-2030) to strengthen industry-relevant and competence-based education aimed at producing graduates with employable skills.
The plan has seven pillars: industry-based education; digital transformation and modernized physical infrastructure; quality assurance, institutional excellence and competency; industry-driven applied research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The rest are staff development, motivation, and welfare; strategic partnerships and increased visibility; sustainable and green technologies.
Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Vice Chancellor of ATU, who announced this in Accra at the launch of the event, said the 2021-2025 plan achieved over 70 per cent success rate.
He said the first pillar of competence-based training and future-ready teaching had objectives and sub-activities that focused on reviewing and alignment of mode of delivery and assessment.
It also expands the integration of practical, work-based, and simulation learning in all programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor said the second pillar that touched on digital transformation was to modernize classrooms, laboratories, and workshops to support technology-enabled learning.
The third pillar of quality assurance was to strengthen and promote the culture of continuous improvement and accountability to ensure institutional excellence.
The fourth pillar; industry-driven applied research, focuses on deepening collaboration with industry to create solutions through innovation hubs and entrepreneurship.
Prof Acakpovi said the pillar of staff development would prioritise continuous professional development, inclusive recruitment and promotion processes, and improved staff welfare systems.
The sixth pillar – strategic partnerships – is expected to build strong networks with industry, academia, government and international bodies to enhance the University’s relevance and global competitiveness.
The final pillar touches on sustainable and green technologies through energy efficiency, green innovation, and environmentally responsible practices in teaching, research, and institutional development.
Dr Emmanuel Newman, Director of Tertiary, Ministry of Education, said the plan was not only a document but also a strong commitment to the transformation of the University to a higher height.
He charged the leadership of the institution to use their expertise to train students to be innovative and produce products that would make them competitive in Africa and internationally.
That, he said, was necessary because employers more importantly needed competence-based human capital than certificate to advance the process of development.
Prof Ernest Abotsi, ATU Council Chair, urged Management to ensure strict implementation of the content of the plan, stressing “life without a plan cannot succeed.”
The plan, he stated, defined the path the University intended to undertake, calling for measures to benchmark the plan as against the outcomes.
“We are a relevant university, and we train students to be meaningful in society,” he said.
“We have no reason to be poor. We are sitting on opportunity and need to convert them to make the country better and prosperous.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe