By Prince Acquah
Cape Coast, Aug 01, GNA – The Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) will from the next academic year, introduce a mandatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) and soft skills programme for all students as part of efforts to produce competitive graduates equipped for the demands of the modern job market.
Under the initiative, no student would graduate without acquiring competencies in AI and essential soft skills, as the university embarks on a digital transformation to enhance teaching, learning and graduate employability.
Professor Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye, Vice-Chancellor of the University, announced the initiative during the school’s maiden press soiree in Cape Coast, where he outlined ambitious growth strategies including significant increase in student enrolment, infrastructure expansion and introduction of new academic programmes.
As part of the digital transformation agenda, he said the university would also roll out a smart classroom project and adopt blended learning from the next academic year to improve students’ experience.
“Why should students still come to campus? Some are coming from as far-flung areas as Twifo Praso when they can sit behind the comfort of their computers and have quality education,” he said.
“We are determined to produce, not just 21st century graduates, but competitive 21st century graduates and we are doing that through grooming. We are providing outlets for innovation and engaging deeper practical learning,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor reported that student enrolment had witnessed remarkable growth over the past few years, increasing from about 2,500 in 2019 to 3,880 in 2023 and currently standing at approximately 7,500 students.
To sustain that momentum, he said the university had launched “Operation 4K,” an ambitious campaign to admit 4,000 fresh students in the next academic year, with a target to increase total enrolment to 10,000 by the end of the year.
He said the university intended to record a net growth of 5,000 students annually to reach an enrolment of 30,000 by 2030, while expanding to multiple campuses and producing its first PhD graduates.
He acknowledged the infrastructure challenges associated with rapid increase in enrolments, particularly in lecture space and student accommodation, but assured that the university was pursuing practical solutions to address them.
He disclosed that discussions were underway with private investors to provide additional hostel facilities in addition to ongoing Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects to significantly increase accommodation capacity to meet growing demand.
Aside from that, Prof Boakye said they were working to transform the university campus through increased investment in infrastructure and support its long-term expansion agenda.
The university was also strengthening its relevance to national development through community engagement initiatives, including engineering skills training for Junior High School and Senior High School graduates, as well as a partnership with the Ankaful Prisons to equip inmates with employable skills before their release.
“Apart from those who are doing outlier sentences, like 160 years, 100 years, 80 years, majority of them will come out. And when they come out from prison, where are they going? So, if we can make them job-ready or skills-ready by the time they come out of prison, I think it would be helping to shape the community that we live in,” he stated.
The Vice Chancellor expressed confidence in the university’s future and appealed to all stakeholders, including the media to support their cause.
Mr Kingsley Nana Buadu, the Central Regional Chair of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), commended the CCTU for its r remarkable growth and contribution to national development.
He acknowledged the enormity of the task ahead and assured the university of the media’s continued support in advancing its vision and development agenda.
”CCTU is one of the institutions we hold dear to our hearts. We will support you to become the number one technical university in the country,” he pledged.
As part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of media practitioners in the Central Region, Mr Buadu appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to consider introducing a special admission arrangement for journalists to enable them to further their education and enhance their professional skills.
”Whether you like it or not the media is part of the administration of Ghana. The quality of the media in the region reflects the quality of development of the region,” he stressed.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Prince Acquah
Reporter’s e-mail address: [email protected]