Hon. Ministers and Members of Parliament, Eminent Guest, Colleagues, graduates, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour, as the Vice-Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, to welcome you all to the Second Session of the 17th
Congregation of our noble institution. I am very much grateful that despite the other numerous activities competing for your attention, you have made time to come and grace this occasion.
I particularly want to congratulate and acknowledge the presence of the Hon. Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, having been appointed as the Regional Minister who is representing His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana. We are very privileged to have him as our special Guest of Honour.
I also share the joy of the graduands, who are direct beneficiaries of the policy of the University to graduate its students of the Higher National Diploma Programmes in the very year in which they completed their various courses of study.
I salute the hardworking and dedicated staff of the University for making it possible to hold this year’s graduation in batches due to the observance of the COVID-19 protocols. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that the deadlines set for submission of exams results to the Departmental Board, Faculty Board, Academic Board, and the National Board for Professional and Technician Examination (NABPTEX) were adhered to or complied with.
THE VALUE OF CONGREGATION
The congregation is a highly revered academic ritual in educational institutions everywhere. At the end of every school year, graduating students, walk solemnly towards the stage elegantly garbed in their robes to receive their certificates. One cannot underestimate the significance of such a moment as every student’s journey towards graduation is filled with all sorts of trials and challenges.
However, graduation is not an end in itself, but a mark of a new beginning in the journey of life. For University graduands, graduation is the beginning of their “real” lives as they fly out from the warmth and comfort of the university which offers students the opportunity to further their education and, above all apply for jobs to earn their living.
It is also worthy to note that during this solemn occasion, the Vice-Chancellor is afforded the opportunity to give a report of the state of affairs of the University, and account for his stewardship for the year under review.
REPORT
Chairman, the year under review has not been an easy journey but the university has made significant progress and I wish to report on some of the ongoing developmental projects.
Construction of a Classroom Unit
Work has begun on the multi-purpose building complex comprising classrooms, offices for lecturers and an auditorium. Large classrooms are being constructed to increase capacity to accommodate the increasing number of students in each lecture hall. Management is working in collaboration with other stakeholders for their support towards the completion of the projects.
Changes at the University Clinic
Chairman, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Formerly the University Clinic was managed by a Nurse with other supporting staff. Members. Today, 1 am glad to inform you of the significant changes that have taken place at the University Clinic, the University Clinic is progressing steadily with the employment of 7 new clinical staff members to support in providing health care to Staff members and Students.
Details of Staff at the University Clinic
- 1 Doctor
- 1 Administrator
- 1 Physicians Assistant
- 2 Laboratory Technician
- 3 Nurses.
- 1 ward Assistant
- 1 Pharmacy Technician and
Management is working hard to bring a desirable change in the health conditions of the University Community and its environs, hence, the construction of a hospital, which is almost at completion.
Plans for the Construction of a Hostel
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is regrettable that for many years, KTU has been battling with inadequate infrastructure. This has become a popular cry by the Vice-Chancellors at each Matriculation and Congregation ceremony of the University. It is unacceptable for a University with such a great vision and mandate to have inadequate infrastructure. Residential accommodation for staff members and students remain the greatest challenge facing the University. Distinguished Invited Guests, we are making a very fervent appeal to you to assist us to address this problem.
The increasing student’s population has been an issue of concern to Management. Out of about 9,000 students, less than 10% can be accommodated on campus at the only GETFund Hostel. More than 80% of the students reside in private rented facilities within the immediate community which are close to campus.
Sanitation facilities in some of these private houses are poor. We are very sad that some of our students could be exposed to health hazards as they live under poor sanitary conditions. We call on the state and interested groups to build another hostel for the University.
Urgent need for the Construction of an Auditorium ans Library
The University also needs an auditorium to hold all academic ceremonies, particularly, an event of this nature. We mostly, seek the divine intervention of God to prevent any rainfall which could disrupt such programmes.
GRADUATE STATISTICS
Today we graduate a total of 2,021 Higher National Diploma and 168 Diploma in Public Administration graduands who completed their studies in 2020 and will be presented with certificates during the Second Session of the 17th Congregation. A breakdown of the classification of the students is as follows: a total of 128 graduands obtained First Class, 1,038 graduands obtained Second Class Upper, 927 graduands obtained Second Class Lower. In the case of Automotive Engineering, 2 graduands had ‘Competent’ whiles 42 graduands had ‘Competent with Merit’. Those who obtained passes were 58.
STUDENT POPULATION FOR THE 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR
The University has a student population of 8,924 made up of 1,515 BTech students, 6,457 HND students, and 952 Non-HND, professional and technical students. Of this total, 5,354 Students representing 60% are males and the remaining 3,572 students representing 40% are females.
FOUR YEAR BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMMES
The University has also secured approval to run the following four-year Bachelor of Technology programmes which students have already been admitted in three of them.
The four-year Bachelor of Technology programme is as follows:
Mechatronics Engineering
Civil Engineering with options in – Structural Engineering
– Transportation Engineering
– Geotechnical Engineering
– Material Engineering
Water Resource Engineering
Welding & Fabrication Engineering
Electrical & Electronic Engineering with options in – Power Systems Engineering
– Telecommunication Engineering
– Computer Engineering – Control and Instrumentation
Automotive Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Food Technology
Computer Science with options in – Computer Network Management
– Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
– Information & Communication Technology
Building Technology with options in – Construction Technology & Management
– Commercial Practice & Quantity Surveying
– Real Estate Management
Building Services
I am glad to inform you that out of the 9 newly introduced four-year BTech programmes, 3 programmes have already commenced. These are:
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
- Food Technology
COLLABORATION
The University continues to explore the possibilities of improving the levels of collaboration with other institutions in the areas of staff development and exchange, joint research/proposal writing etc. The following are the institutions in collaboration with the University:
- Hamm – Lippstadt University of Applied Science, Germany.
- University of Applied Sciences (Dusseldorf), Germany.
- OTH University, Regensburg, Bavaria Germany.
- McGill University, Canada.
Two students from the Renewable Energy Systems Engineering Department and two (2) from Marketing Department are going to benefit from an exchange programme with the University of Applied Sciences (Dusseldorf) and OTH University, Regensburg both in Germany.
RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND JOINT PROPOSAL WRITING
The University has shown its commitment to research and publications by the continual support of research proposals of staff members through its allocation for staff development and research. Currently, the Directorate of Research of the University has held its 11th Applied Research Conference scheduled for 15th-18th June, 2021.
expectations of you. As alumni, you must contribute to making the University a better place than you left it by actively participating in Association. the activities of the Alumni
Furthermore, I caution you against arrogance and indiscipline at the workplace. Be worthy ambassadors of this noble institution. You may have already realized through your training at Koforidua Technical University that life is not rosy, success calls for perseverance, hard work and self-discipline. Above all, your trust in God must be absolute if you want to succeed.
