Two sign MoU to train students in practical skills
The Accra Polytechnic has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Marketing and Social Research (BMSR) for a mutual collaboration to facilitate practical skills training for students of the institution.
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The MoU would ensure that final year students in the Mathematics and Statistics, and Marketing departments of the institution gain practical industrial skills at the BMSR, beginning in the first quarter of this year.
The MoU
The MoU was signed by the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Sylvester Achio, on behalf of the institution and the Executive Director of BNSR, Mr Isaac Gwumah, who led a five-member delegation to the ceremony in Accra on Monday.
Mr Gwumah explained that as part of the initiative, lecturers and students would benefit from a practical teaching and learning environment that would bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the demands of industry.
“The MoU will go a long way to improve the employability of students through the skills they are expected to acquire before they finish their courses. Brilliant students who will be retained as Teaching Assistants need to also be equipped with practical training to guide other students,” he said.
Timely initiative
Dr Achio said the time had come for academic institutions and industry to collaborate to address the yawning gap between the two fields.
He said such collaborations were inevitable, considering the fact that some polytechnics would take off as technical universities by September this year.
“I am glad that the Mathematics and Statistics department will be at the centre of this collaboration. It is satisfying that the BMSR is offering an opportunity for our students to be abreast of the concept data analysis and its analysis. This will be a great motivation factor for us,” he said.
The Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dr (Mrs) Alice Constance Mensah, was full of gratitude to the BMSR for the collaboration.
She said the initiative would, in the long run, benefit the country, since lecturers and students would acquire practical skills to boost the economy.
