Kumasi Polytechnic gets mechatronics laboratory

A laboratory (mechatronics laboratory) to train engineering students of the Kumasi Polytechnic, especially in computer and solar energy, has been completed at a cost of $3 million.

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field of engineering that includes mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, control and computer engineering.

Already, the Kumasi Polytechnic has established a centre for renewable energy and energy efficiency towards ensuring that the school becomes self-sufficient in the provision of its own electricity.

The Rector of the Kumasi Polytechnic, Professor Nicholas N.N. Nsowah-Nuamah, made this known to the Daily Graphic during a workshop on the transformation of the polytechnics into technical universities last Tuesday in Kumasi.

He said while the laboratory would be used to impart knowledge about solar energy to the students, the Centre for Renewable Energy of the school would be charged with the responsibility for providing solar and manure energy for the school’s new campus at Kutunase.

Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said feasibility studies on the provision of adequate and potable water from yet-to-be-drilled wells on the school’s campuses were also ongoing.

Kumasi Polytechnic was in the news recently for owing water and electricity bills. It owed the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) GH¢3 million and the Ghana Water Company GH¢456,777.

Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said the school did not want to be saddled with the payment of electricity and water bills, when it had the capacity and capability to generate its own power and water and sell surpluses to the utility providers.

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On the polytechnic’s preparations towards becoming a technical university, Professor Nsowah-Nuamah said the school was almost ready, both in terms of infrastructure and human resource.

On human resource, he explained that currently the Kumasi Polytechnic could boast 30 doctorate degree holders and more than 60 senior lecturers, 30 of whom had submitted their works to be promoted.

That, he further explained, meant that by next year, the Kumasi Polytechnic would be having 100 professors at the proposed technical university.

Technical universities

Prof. Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, a former Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who gave a briefing on the status and workings of technical universities, said they were structured to have strong links with industry and business and offered programmes that were vocationally oriented and career focused.

He said the technical universities would also support existing and emerging productive sectors of the economy with technical expertise, adding that technical universities also placed emphasis on innovation and applications of new technologies.

- By Donald Ato Dapatem, graphic.com.gh

Coalition of Tertiary Students protest payment of utility bills

The Coalition of Tertiary Students, Ghana, say they will resist any attempt by government to make tertiary students resident on campus bear the cost of utilities.

According to them, they will not sit and watch government pass on its social compact expectations on its students.

Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa early this month announced at a meeting of Campus Connect in Kumasi that, as part of measures to reduce the pressure on government coffers, tertiary students resident on campus would be charged for using utility services.

However, at a press conference organised Tuesday, the president of the Coalition of Tertiary Students, Ghana, Mr Duke Aaron Sasu said, “We students and student leaders oppose vehemently this ill thought through Government policy. We would resist any attempt by government to force the hands of students to bear the arrears of utility bills owed by the universities as a consequence of the failure of government of Ghana to exercise its responsibilities.”

They have therefore warned of mass nationwide student rallies to press home their demand.

The coalition has also asked all tertiary students across the country to embark on a ‘red alert crusade’ to register their displeasure, adding, “Every student of Ghana must identify with something red to register our displeasure until the Government calls off this sickening policy.”

The coalition is made up of the Wa and Nyankpala campuses of the University of Development Studies (UDS), the University of Mines and Technology, (UMaT), Kumasi and Takoradi Polytechnics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Kumasi Campus.


Source: Written by Graphic.com.gh