The Rector of Ho Polytechnic Prof. Emmanuel Kojo Sakyi, is upbeat about the readiness of the his institution for conversion into Technical University.According to the Prof. Sakyi, Ho Polytechnic is more than 50% ready for conversion into Technical University.He said efforts put in place by the Polytechnic towards the exercise are already yielding desirable fruits.
Polytechnics in Ghana are seriously bracing up for conversion into technical Universities, a policy which full implementation will begin by September, 2016.
The Polytechnics are supposed to meet certain requirements to qualify for conversion as per the report of the Technical Committee for the Conversion of Polytechnics in Ghana to Technical Universities.According to Prof Sakyi, Ho Polytechnic have already begun implementing the recommendations of the Dr. George Afeti committee even before the committee submits its report.
Top among these measures are the expansion of the academic programmes especially the B'Tech programmes and industry collaboration to make programmes run by the Polytechnic more useful to industry.
The Polytechnic which currently runs three Bachelor of Technology Degrees in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Auto-Mobile Engineering and Agricultural Engineering hopes to introduce more degree programmes. All academic programmes of the Polytechnic are currently undergoing a review as a result of the resolve to make programmes of the institution more relevant to industry and also in readiness for takeoff as a technical University.
As part of the recommendations of the Technical Committee, for a polytechnic to be granted technical university status, it should be offering a minimum of four (4) B'Tech degree programmes in science and technology based disciplines.According to the Rector, he has directed all faculties of the Polytechnic to sign MOUs with industry players in his bid to forge a closer collaboration between Polytechnic and Industry which is one of the criteria for qualification for conversion to Technical University. The Polytechnic is also in collaboration with Felix Houphouet Boigny 'L'institut National Polytechnique' of La Cote d'Ivoire for exchange programmes.
The new Rector has also made mention of similar academic collaborations between the Polytechnic and the Vocational Institute for Technology (VIT), India and Pulaski Technical College, USA .
Prof. Sakyi was speaking at a press briefing in Ho on his 100 days in office as Rector.
Prof. Sakyi assumed office on October 1, 2014 as the Rector of Ho Polytechnic. 100 days in office has not been without challenges to confront.
The Rector has been talking about how he is surmounting some pertinent challenges he identified with respect to sanitation, erratic power supply, water and institutional weaknesses.
"The sanitation situation on campus has seen some considerable improvement, the workforce responsible for cleaning our facilities have now seen some level of encouragement to do the rights thing. The difficulty with erratic power supply have also been addressed, a new switch over has been installed and proposals submitted and plans far advanced to acquire of two new plants specifically for Asogli and Afadzato blocks to facilitate Teaching and learning. There is also a proposal in the pipeline for us to get alternative power source preferably Solar.All these initiatives are being supported by supported by individual institutions and other philanthropic organizations.'' There are plans to drill two new mechanized boreholes to improve the water situation in the various halls of residence on campus. "Committees are also in place to facilitate the establishment of School of Research and Graduate Studies, An International Scholarly Journal, Centre for Entrepreneurial and Technology Transfer and Endowment Fund for Staff development. Another ambitious project mentioned by the Rector is the start of Distance learning programmes at Akatsi, Aflao, and Hohoe", said Prof Sakyi.
Prof. Sakyi said his vision for the Polytechnic is "to create and strengthen administrative and academic institutions to support quality vocational and technical education'' that encompasses teaching, learning and research.
He is seeking to attain this vision by doing what he termed as institutional re-engineering which bring into effect the necessary technical and adaptive changes to make the polytechnic administrative structures more effective.
source: myjoyonline
