Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has indicated that in the next academic year, the University would begin professional doctorate programmes to encourage practicing engineers and experts to earn higher degrees in their respective fields.
He added that UMaT would introduce a course in the practice of engineering where students would engage artisans in their respective communities and apprenticeship to improve on their creativity, embrace challenges and prepare for the world of work.
In addition to the hard-core engineering courses, he said they would also institute courses on Critical Thinking and Integrated Thought, Financial Education and Leadership, to improve upon the quality of their products.
Prof Amankwa made the disclosure during the 16th Matriculation ceremony which was held in two batches following the COVID-19 pandemic.
On financial aid, Prof Amankwah stressed that the students support and counseling unit of the University had taken a central role in facilitating funding opportunities for students to reduce the barrier that limit students access to education in UMaT.
He expressed appreciation to the Chamber of Mines Tertiary Education Fund, Ghana National Petroleum Company Foundation, Baker Hughes, Gold Fields Foundation, Barclays Bank, Total Petroleum Company and others for their generosity over the years.
He pointed out that UMaT also gave bursaries to every fee-paying students to make accepting fee-paying admission easier for many Ghanaian families and added that Student Loan Trust Fund was also available.
Prof Amankwah further entreated students facing financial challenges to apply for the funding opportunities.
Prof Amankwah observed that UMaT pride themselves in the uniqueness of their products, encouraged the students to become part of this special group of people who picked superior skills on campus and graduate to influence society in many positive ways.
“As a recognized institution of higher learning with specialization in mining, petroleum, allied engineering and management science education, the University sought to challenge their students to discover their potentials and achieve the highest levels of intellectual capabilities and personal growth to meet industrial and professional needs of this country”, he stressed.
He added that to deepen this uniqueness, they would establish the School of Sustainable Development, in addition to Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, programme in Forestry and Landscape Engineering as well as Waste and Resource Engineering.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
