By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Sumbrungu (U/E), July 22, GNA – The Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) has launched its maiden Career Fair, bringing together more than 1,000 students and leading industry players in a major effort to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Held under the theme: “Bridging Education, Industry and Employment,” the two-day event was organised in strategic partnership with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), with sponsorship from Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, Engineers and Planners Company Limited, and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
The fair created a unique platform for students to engage directly with employers, explore career opportunities, understand labour market expectations and build professional networks.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Professor Peter Osei Boamah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of BTU described the event as a transformative moment in the university’s history.
He said: “The University has become a vibrant hub where academic ambition directly meets the practical realities of global industry.”
He said the maiden Career Fair represented a monumental milestone in the university’s commitment to producing graduates who were ready for the world of work.
According to him, the BTU was implementing the Integrated Digital Competence and Job Accelerator Project under the EU-Ghana Pact for Skills, with funding from the European Union and technical support from UNCDF.
He explained that the initiative had led to the establishment of an Integrated Digital Skills and Employability Hub on the university campus and the co-design of academic curricula with industry partners to ensure graduates possess skills that matched current labour market demands.
“Our curriculum is deeply rooted in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). We do not just teach theory, we develop hands-on problem solvers, digital innovators and industry-ready leaders. The students you see today possess practical skills, a strong work ethic and the determination to contribute meaningfully to national development,” he stated.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor commended the participating companies and institutions for investing time and resources to mentor students and expose them to emerging career opportunities.
He also urged students to take full advantage of the fair by interacting with employers, seeking career guidance and building professional networks, stressing that today’s job market is increasingly competitive and technology driven.
Mr Roland Atanga Ayoo, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, called for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to produce graduates with competencies that meet the needs of employers.
He encouraged both educational institutions and private sector organisations to deepen partnerships that enhanced skills development and improve youth employment.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Simon Adugbire, a Mining Consultant, appealed to industry to expand internship and National Service opportunities for BTU students to enable them acquire practical workplace experience before graduation.
He also challenged universities to continually assess the critical human resource needs of organisations and align their academic programmes accordingly to narrow the country’s graduate unemployment gap.
Mr Adugbire further appealed to mining companies and other corporate organisations to increase their investment in BTU’s development to strengthen its capacity to produce highly skilled professionals for Ghana’s growing economy.
Representatives from mining companies, engineering firms, digital technology organisations, marketing companies, educational institutions and small-scale enterprises pledged their continued support for the university through internships, mentorship, recruitment opportunities and collaborative partnerships.
The maiden Career Fair is expected to become an annual flagship programme aimed at strengthening university-industry collaboration, enhancing graduate employability and positioning BTU as a leading institution in skills development and industry-responsive education in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Email: [email protected]