Accra: Dr Lawrence Yao Addo, Civil Engineer, General Manager, Kodson Transport Company Limited, says alumni associations are key to breaking the gap between academia and industry and facilitating graduate employment. He said alumni associations, if incorporated into the university administration, could share valuable insights about the demands of the industry with academia. The academia, he stressed, would be well informed about the demands of the industry and would incorporate those demands into the course curricula to teach the students. He said this in a keynote address during the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Accra Technical University Alumni Association (ATTUA), held at the auditorium of the University. 'It is important that the course curriculum be industry-focused to get students who will finish and not become unemployed. Most of the courses at the university seem outdated, and they need to be modified. 'We are making a call that the alumni be incorporated into the leadership of the institut ion to advise the university on tailored-made courses to meet the expectations of the industry. 'The role of the alumni is to create a research portfolio that we can use to identify good and brilliant students that we can recommend to industry for employment,'' he said. Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Accra Technical University, in an interview on the sidelines of the event, said that Universities could leverage the alumni association to bring industry closer. 'Bridging the gap between academia and industry, taking a clue from examples at other places in the world, you see that the alumni association actually supports the university in bringing the industry closer. Because they have acquired a lot of experience in the industry, they are able to bring those challenges from the industry and channel them through their universities and schools. It should be a partnership between the industry and the departments,' he said. He said the alumni association could play a major role in addre ssing the infrastructure deficit at the University. The Professor appealed to the alumni body to provide the necessary funds and support for the construction of a new hostel facility on the new campus. Mr David Ayisala, Global President of ATUAA, said the alumni association of the university was keenly interested in assisting the school to construct a new hostel facility on the new campus. ATUAA is an association of all past students of Accra Technical University that exists to foster a continuous link between the university and the past students. The association also creates networking and systems and contributes to the university's growth and expansion. Source: Ghana News Agency The Nakuru County Assembly Majority leader Alex Lang'at has mobilized his friends from the United Kingdom (UK) to support and expand the health facilities in Rongai sub-county. Speaking today at the Sumeek Dispensary in his Mosop ward, the MCA said the health facility has been a steadfast provider of outpatient services for decades, serving the community with dedication and care. He commended the county government for the significant boost with the construction of a modern maternity wing, which has reduced the long-distance mothers have to travel to access health facilities. While at the dispensary accompanied by his friends from the UK, Lang'at said he was making a personal initiative to further improve the facility and bring all the healthcare services closer to his people. The County Executive Member for Health, Ms Roselyn Mungai lauded the collaborative efforts between the executive and legislative branches of the local government. She said the department of health continues to prioritize engagement with healthcare professionals in order to address challenges faced by the frontline workers. And, efforts are underway to identify scalable best practices and devise solutions to common hurdles that impact service delivery. She said since the beginning of the year they have embarked on visits to various health centres to create a platform for healthcare workers to share their perspectives and highlight areas in need of improvement. 'By soliciting feedback directly from those on the frontline, the department of health can better identify obstacles and implement targeted strategies to overcome them,'' she said. Ms Mungai said by fostering a culture of open communication and partnership, the county was working towards a healthcare system that is responsive, resilient, and focused on meeting the needs of the residents. The Assembly Majority leader confirmed that the department of health has been the best performing in the county, and they have attracted a number of stakeholders who are willing to support them to greater heights. Lang'at added that a number of counties have benchmarked their progress, and wananchi are excited by the devolution of health services, since they are no longer carrying patients on wheelbarrows as was the case in the past. Source: Kenya News Agency
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