Technical universities will reduce youth unemployment – Prof. Achaw

The head of Chemical Engineering at the Kumasi Technical University, Professor Osei-Wusu Achaw, is hopeful the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities will curb youth unemployment and alleviate poverty in the country.

Speaking in an interview with TV3, Professor Osei-Wusu Achaw, pointed out that, the focus of technical universities is to produce people with medium and high level employable skills , Professor Osei-Wusu Achaw, who is also the Ashanti Regional chairman of the Ghana Institution of Engineers, noted: ‘’It is in this vein that government committed a lot of resources to ensure the successful implementation of the conversion in line with the country’s economic restructuring and global competitiveness’’.

According to him, the government’s decision to convert polytechnics into technical universities was carefully thought through. He pointed out that major considerations, included the need to re-brand technical education, deepen its relevance and give it the necessary support and attention for the country’s development.

“The decision of conversion is also to emphasize a close engagement with the world of work without necessarily disengaging with the requisite academic orientation of higher education institutions,” Professor Osei stated.

“The new universities will be the bridge between the world of science and industry. They will forge a symbolic relationship with industry by utilizing the resources of industry for innovation and technological advancement of our country’’, he added.

He said technical education was the most costly form of education and that conversion of the country’s polytechnics into technical universities must receive the commensurate funding from government. He added that the funding per students in technical universities must be much higher than that of students in the traditional universities.