The C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (C.K.T-UTAS) in Navrongo in the Upper East Region has been granted accreditation to run nursing programmes to increase the needed human resources in the health sector.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Albert Luguterah, who announced this, said the accreditation was granted by both the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The new nursing programmes are Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Nursing), B.Sc. in Paediatric Nursing and B.Sc. Midwifery.
“Currently, 205 students have already been admitted at various levels to pursue such programmes for the 2023/2024 academic year,” he stated.
Congregation
Professor Luguterah announced this at the fourth congregation of the university. A total of 94 students comprising 87 graduate students, including six Doctor of Philosophy (PhDs) and six undergraduate students were awarded degrees.
He mentioned that the university in the last four years had worked so hard to expand its academic programmes, saying “we will continuously develop academic programmes that are relevant and demand-driven to scientifically solve our local and international challenges”.
He indicated that all programmes due for re-accreditation had been submitted to GTEC for accreditation and gave assurance that the university would subject all existing and new academic programmes to all processes and seek approval before running them.
Challenges
Touching on challenges facing the institution, he said as a young university with science and technology mandate, several critical staff were needed to provide practical/laboratory-based training as well as provide administrative and professional support.
He stressed that the university needed adequate and well-equipped laboratories for hands-on training of students, noting, “a three-storey laboratory complex being funded by GETfund which would have been of great help has stalled”.
Further, the Vice-Chancellor enumerated other teething challenges facing the university including inadequate housing for students and lecture hall, limited financial resources, poor road networks, among others.
Appeal
He appealed to all stakeholders to help improve the infrastructure in the university to enable the free senior high school (SHS) graduates, especially students who pursued courses in STEM, to gain admission into the university.
On the way forward, he pointed out that the university would continue to foster academic excellence through the delivery of high-quality education that would prepare the students for the demanding job market.
While commending the graduates for their perseverance, he told them that their education was not just a collection of data and theories but rather a toolkit for innovation, a foundation for leadership and a beacon of hope for a better future.
Modest accomplishment
The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, while addressing the event, commended the university’s governing council, management and staff for the modest accomplishment within a short period of autonomy as a fully fledged university.
He acknowledged that a 400-capacity hostel and a science laboratory complex being funded by GETfund had stalled and assured the institution that he would follow up on the two projects so that they could be completed and put to good use.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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