ABL, UMaT collaborate to train more engineers

In the spirit of industry and academic collaboration, Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have entered into a mutually beneficial agreement to encourage multi-disciplinary research programmes and training of students at the university’s Faculty of Engineering.

For the next four years, the two parties will work together to promote various activities for the benefit of the students and faculty on one hand and ABL on the other.

At a ceremony in Accra to seal the deal, ABL, Ghana’s premier brewing company, pledged to cooperate with UMaT in curriculum development to ensure that graduates of the Faculty of Engineering meet the needs of the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry in Ghana. The company also gave the undertaking that it shall develop an annual 12-week internship for students of the faculty. The criteria for selection shall be decided through negotiations by both institutions from time to time.

UMaT will institute with ABL sponsorship, a seminar programme at the University for Guest Lectures to be delivered by key technical personnel from ABL, to enrich the learning experience of students. Furthermore, staff and students of UMaT will work with employees of ABL on research projects and problems or other projects of interest to ABL. UMaT shall also assist ABL to develop their human resources base by providing relevant short term courses and training for ABL’s technical employees at the Faculty of Engineering.

The Managing Director of ABL, Mr Gregory Metcalf, who signed on behalf of the company, noted “we are delighted about this new partnership with such a forward looking university. We at ABL are very confident that after the four year period, the benefits would have improved our lots. We remain committed to providing a platform for the exchange of relevant technical/ engineering skills and knowledge.”

He highlighted the need to meet the industry’s requirements by training students to be more equipped practically in addition to their theoretical knowledge, and therefore the readiness of the company to engage in such partnerships with the academia.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Prof.Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma said “If the majority of industries in Ghana were to embark on such partnerships with academia, I am sure the mutual benefits would be enormous. There is a huge gap that needs to be filled if Ghana is to attain the crucial heights of industrialization using relevant, up to date information, knowledge and skills churned out from institutions like ours. We applaud ABL for this initiative and pledge to remain focused in achieving the set targets”.

Since 2007, students from the Department of Food Process Engineering at University of Ghana and Accra Polytechnic have also benefited from similar partnerships with Accra Brewery Limited. Earlier this year a similar arrangement was entered into with the Takoradi Polytechnic. The MoU with UMaT brings the total number of such partnerships between ABL and academia, to four.