Takoradi, Dec.10, GNA- The second matriculation ceremony for degree students to pursue Bachelor of Technology programmes in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Takoradi Polytechnic has been held. A total of 15 students, made up of eight hospitality management programme students and seven from the tourism management programme, were led by Mr Jones Addai-Marfo, Registrar of the Polytechnic to take the matriculation oath, on Wednesday.

Takoradi Polytechnic runs three top-up degree programmes and it's currently working to obtain accreditation to start top-up degree programmes in Civil Engineering, Electrical-Electronic Engineering, Marketing, Accountancy and Secretaryship and Management studies. Dr. Samuel Obeng Apori, Rector of Takoradi Polytechnic said the demand to run top-up degree programmes by the Polytechnic was to give opportunity to Higher National Diploma graduates to achieve their desire for academic progression in their chosen professions. He urged the matriculants to focus on their academic work and that they would be offered the best of training to make them top-grade professionals in their chosen careers. Dr. Apori said the training would include pre-arranged industrial internship that would enable them to acquire practical experience. Takoradi Polytechnic, he said, had embarked on an "aggressive" staff development programme under which lecturers pursued Masters and Doctoral programmes both locally and abroad.

Dr. Apori said this would ensure that the Polytechnic's human resources base was strengthened to take on the enormous responsibilities of higher academic work. He commended government for the support being given to tertiary education; especially the Polytechnics, which he noted were now asserting themselves as tertiary institutions. Dr. Apori said with the expansion of the top-up degree programmes, Takoradi Polytechnic needed additional facilities such as lecture theatres, laboratories and residential accommodation for staff and degree students. He advised the matriculants to work hard to merit the awards that they would earn at the end of their study. 10 Dec. 08