ATU seeks support to address infrastructure gaps

Accra Technical University (ATU) is seeking financial support to address infrastructure gaps and improve the delivery of technical education. The university plans to launch an endowment fund on October 23 to mobilise resources for infrastructure development and other institutional needs. The initiative comes as ATU marks 10 years since its transition from a polytechnic to a technical university in 2016.

Speaking on the university’s development priorities, Finance Director Frank Owusu Boateng said the fund would help address some of the resource constraints facing the institution. “We hope that we will get some seed money, which will indeed grow to help us get some of the infrastructure things that we currently lack,” he said. Technical education and job creation Mr Boateng also emphasised the need for graduates of technical universities to apply their practical skills beyond seeking conventional employment.

He said the hands-on training students receive should equip them to establish businesses and create jobs for others. “The idea is that it works both ways. You either get a job out there or, with the better skills you have acquired, the hands-on skills you have acquired, you should be able to create your own job, and even employ others to work for you,” he said.

His comments highlight the importance of equipping graduates with practical competencies that can support entrepreneurship and contribute to employment creation. Debate marks 10 years of transition ATU’s infrastructure and development needs featured in discussions during its 10th anniversary inter-university debate. The contest examined the motion: “This House Believes That Transitioning Polytechnics to Technical Universities Has Helped the Course of Technical Education in Ghana.” The debate provided an opportunity for students to assess the impact of the transition on technical education and discuss its contribution to skills development.

ATU Debate Society coach Michael Koranteng expressed excitement over the university’s performance in the competition, describing the outcome as a proud moment for the team. “As we had exhibited today, ATU came in tops, and as a coach, I am particularly grateful and very excited to be part of the success story,” he said. Mr Koranteng also noted that debate offers students opportunities to develop communication and argumentation skills while building relationships that support their personal and academic growth.