Takoradi Technical University’s (TTU) academic programmes span across fields in Engineering, Science and Technology-Based disciplines, Technical and Vocational programmes, Applied Arts and related disciplines.
However, the University has dynamically positioned itself to focus on its niche area of Oil and Gas Engineering though last year particularly was very difficult for the university community as the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the academic year, affecting teaching and learning and rearranging scheduled examinations.
Students and lecturers alike had to embrace new digital methodologies of delivering lectures and learning, thus removing the sense of community in the face-to-face interactions.
In all this, there was the conscious and active involvement of all levels of university management, faculty and staff to ensure that the government and other stakeholders’ protocols were adhered to while students came to complete the academic year and write their examinations.
Activities of Council
TTU has a vision to build and equip its students with the skills and capabilities to thrive in a modern economy and also have the consciousness to contribute to a better society.
The University Governing Council has since its inauguration in September, 2017, steered the affairs of the University and provided policy direction as required.
During the period under review, the Council supervised and ensured the smooth transition from a Polytechnic to a University status through the engagement of various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, Union Executives and staff.
Council during its tenure enacted University statutes and fashioned out a code of conduct and standing orders to direct Council meetings while a number of significant policies were also approved for implementation.
These include the following, a scholarship scheme to assist needy but brilliant students as part of the University’s corporate social responsibility, and a virtual and blended learning policy to meet the needs of the teeming number of students expected in the coming academic year.
The rest are University fees policy that ensures efficient and timely collection of fees and a University Medical Policy that ensures that good health of staff and promotes efficiency at the workplace.
Council has also completed some infrastructural projects started by its predecessors. They include the University hall, reconstruction of the Odro block and a refurbishment and retooling of the University Health Centre.
Some of the new projects started include, the building of two four-storey lecture theatres, one on the main campus and another at the BU Campus; an extension of the administrative block, and a TTU-private partnership hostel project on the main campus.
Some other activities undertaken by Council during its tenure are the restructuring of the administrative arm of the university into directorates for efficient and effective operations, approving a new strategic plan for the period 2021-2025 and overseeing the appointment and investiture of substantive key management officers.
These are in addition to prudently managing the University’s finances and managing the COVID-19 pandemic on campus.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
