On March 8, the Sunyani Technical University (STU) admitted 3,362 new students into its diploma and degree programs for the 2023/2024 academic year.
This admission process encompassed 5,704 applicants, as revealed by Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, the Vice Chancellor (VC). This year's intake marks a 14.0 per cent increase from the previous year, which enrolled 2,949 students.
Furthermore, the university is poised to launch apprenticeship programs under Phase IV of the Ghana TVET Voucher Project (GTVP), supported by KFW. Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah highlighted the registration of 100 Mastercraft Persons (MCPs) from various Trade Associations as an initial step towards training all apprentices under these MCPs.
During the 28th matriculation ceremony held at the main campus in Sunyani, the VC disclosed that of the incoming students, 2,252 (67.0 per cent) were male, while 1,110 (33 per cent) were female. Furthermore, a significant majority, totalling 2,833 students (84.3 per cent), opted for programs in science, technology, engineering, and TVET, contrasting with 529 students (15.7 per cent) who chose Business and Administration courses.
He encouraged prospective students, both domestic and international, to capitalize on the innovative and industry-focused programs offered by the university to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills for employability, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of unemployment.
The VC underscored the importance of industry-driven programs in mitigating youth unemployment, expressing optimism that increased uptake of such programs would produce skilled graduates capable of securing employment or establishing their ventures.
Currently, the university offers a range of programs accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), including nine Master of Technology (MTech) programs, 26 Bachelor’s programs (BTech and BSc), 23 Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, five Diploma programs, and eight other non-tertiary programs.
Professor Adinkrah-Appiah attributed this surge in enrollment to various factors, including the students' commendable performance in the workforce and effective promotional efforts. Additionally, the introduction of new Bachelor’s and Master’s programs played a pivotal role in attracting more students. He emphasized the university's commitment to enhancing enrollment in both new and existing academic programs through intensified recruitment initiatives.
Furthermore, the university is actively developing tailor-made micro-credential programs (short courses) targeted at industry practitioners in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions, ultimately leading to full degree certifications. Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah urged establishments such as Newmont Ghana Gold-Ahafo Mine, VRA, and the Ghana Water Company within these regions to leverage these programs to provide continuous learning opportunities for their staff.
