GCTU seeks support for Silicon Valley vision
The Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) has called on corporate entities to partner with the university to help transform its existing infrastructure into world-class facilities suitable for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education.
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The Vice-Chancellor of GCTU, Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that corporate Ghana must help fund the initiative dubbed the ‘Silicon Valley’, as it would produce skilled labour for local entities.
“In the next eight years, what we intend to do is to transform all the infrastructure on this campus to high-rise facilities of global standard so that we can truly become the centre of ICT excellence,” he said.
Prof. Afoakwa was speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview on GCTU’s mandate to train the next phase of ICT professionals in the country and the need for corporate entities to support the dream.
He said since becoming a fully-fledged public university, GCTU had been embarking on an infrastructure development drive that would make it the most attractive centre for ICT education in the country.
Grand vision
Prof. Afoakwa said the university continues to promote a transformative student experience, problem-based learning and experiential learning approaches through the application of cutting-edge ICTs.
“We shall enhance the knowledge, skill and attitude of students by linking practical industrial attachment and leadership skills to develop their entrepreneurial ability.
We will focus on the total development of students, especially in the area of ICT, to ensure that GCTU is a world-class centre for academic excellence in Ghana and the sub-Saharan
Africa region,” he said.
Prof. Afoakwa said the transformation of the university had started with a vigorous rebranding campaign which involve the beautification of the campus and the enhancement of its public image.
Some of the projects, he said, include painting the main campus and the Abeka campus, resurfacing roads on the main campus, renovating the main administration block and completing the graduate school block.
It will also include the construction of a 3,000-capacity student hostel, a six-storey lecture and offices complex and an ultra-modern library and auditorium complex.
“My students are my priority and their needs are very important to me.
There are a lot of other projects to be done and we are going to make sure of their completion,” Prof. Afoakwa said.
The Vice-Chancellor said already, the vision had resonated with the university community and is manifesting with the commissioning of projects.
He said with the right support from both public and private entities, the university was on a path of transformation and expansion.
“The commitment of staff and the consistent efforts to transform the University into a state-of-the-art world-class institution is admirable and I am committed to the development and the well-being of my students and will see to it that all projects are completed under my watch,” Prof. Afoakwa said.
Transnational education
As a pioneer in the delivery of Transnational Education (TNE), Prof. Afoakwa said GCTU would continue to bear the torch as one of the most successful TNE providers in the country and across the continent.
“Over the years, we have established, built and maintained successful academic partnerships with several universities abroad, including Coventry University, UK; Alborg University, Denmark; Anhalt University, Germany; CASS Europe, France and Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, India,” he said.