The Koforidua polytechnic has been awarded by the African Union after the institution was selected by a seven-member panel of judges to be part of the 10 most Promising Models in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for the 21st century.
Koforidua Polytechnic in August participated in a competition organized by the African Union Commission to uncover the 20 most promising models in TVET for the 21st century technical and vocational education that provides needed skills for Africa’s development economies.
The competition was implemented in collaboration with FHI 360 under the African Union Partnership program, funded by USAID.
The competition which was opened to governmental, non-governmental, non-US organization, non-profit or for-profit entity, received over 50 entries across Africa.
The barometer of qualification was that the participants must have direct link to employers or employer associations and lead to successful employment or new business start-up.
The aim was to highlight leading examples of best practice in TVET in Africa, in order to provide learning model for enhancing TVET development in Africa, as one of the major means of promoting entrepreneurship, youth employment and innovation for generating wealth and development.
After successful review by the seven panel of judges consisting of experts from the African Union, FHI 360, experts on TVET in Africa and the African private sector, Koforidua Polytechnic was selected among the top 10 applicants and was subsequently invited to feature in exhibition attended by Ministers of Education, Science and Technology and senior government representatives, African Union Staff, Officials from TVET and civil society and other international agencies at Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian Capital.
Samuel Okae-Adjei, Director of the Institute of Open and Distance Learning who led the institution to take part in the competition stated that the institution showcased its strong partnership with industries, small scale businesses empowerment through its distance education program for informal students, its strong engineering faculty with one of the best automotive centers in Ghana in partnership with Toyota Ghana among other inventions
He said the African Union Commission’s Department of Human Resources Science and Technology is expected to provide trainers and help the winning entities to become Centers for Excellence across the continent.
“As part of the award we were given a plaque or recognition, and certificate for what we have been able to achieve as a Polytechnic. The AU and its partners have given assurance that they will help us with more technical assistance. We hope the award is going to strengthen us to do more,” he stated.