STCCI signs MoU with TTU to bridge gap between industry and academia

The Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber Commence and Industry (STCCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) to promote human capital through research, and to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The MoU seeks to conduct joint research, offer consultancy services for both institutions, exchange information/documentation, and support each other in the area of manpower development. Also, signing the MoU is critical for both institutions to collaborate and come out with more innovative educational measures to make products from the university relevant to industries.

Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, Vice Chancellor of TTU, explained that: “TTU’s mission is to build human capital through research, innovation and development in the TVET sector, in close collaboration with industry”.

According to him, the MoU will improve industrial liaison and career development services as well as support the development of standards and conformance systems to facilitate trade and business development. “Our aim is to identify and build collaboration with institutions to provide opportunities for skills development, applied research and publication of research findings to enhance productivity and competence,” he said.

Ato Van Ess, Chairman of STCCI, said the MoU’s objective is to formalise the relationship of both institutions. “We have also realised that there is a huge gap between industry and academia; we want to work with TTU to come up with programmes and models which will prepare the students, so that after school so they can fit well into the industry,” he said.

Again, he said: “We want industry to come up with their needs so that academia will tailor their curriculum to some of the needs of industry, and I am hopeful that this is going to be a lasting relationship”.

Benjamin Bii Kpani Addy, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of STCCI, mentioned that signing this agreement with TTU – which has a well-established Research Centre – will help the industry develop more responsive and innovative policies to alleviate the plight of businesses in the country.

“The current business environment demands such collaborations to enhance the socio-economic development of the country, and with the support of our development partners such as Sequa gGmbH, German Ministry of Economic Corporation and Development and Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, there is a lot of work that will need to be done in building human capacity and offeribg employment opportunities,” he added.

To show its readiness to comply with the MoU, and also as part of its corporate social responsibility, STCCI donated some PPE to TTU Health Centre to help fight the novel coronavirus. The items include locally made nose masks, surgical masks, N95, sanitisers, chlorine and methylated spirits, bed sheets and pillows, a washing machine, liquid soap, disposable sack gowns, and tissue paper as well as disposable gloves.

Receiving the items, Vice Chancellor of the University Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun thanked STCCI for the gesture, and pledged that they will be put to good use in ensuring the university does not record incidents of the virus on campus.