By
Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, Oct. 3, GNA – Dr Emmanuel Kwaku
Asiedu, the Chief Executive Officer of GRATIS Foundation, has called for
immediate amendments in the qualifications required for teaching at technical
universities.
“One does not necessarily need to hold a PhD
or a Master’s degree to be able to teach in a technical university”, the
renowned inventor said.
Speaking at the maiden colloquium of the
Sunyani Technical University (STU), Dr Asiedu said the technical universities
and their graduates have failed the nation in her development efforts and such
universities needed professionals with practical experiences to impart to
students.
“Considering the uniqueness of the technical
universities, it requires teachers with years of practical experience to make a
positive impact on students. We are fed up with the PhD qualifications”, he
said.
Under the theme: “Science, Engineering,
Technology and Innovations for Sustainable National Development”, the academic
discussion meeting was attended by teaching and non-teaching staff, deans,
heads of departments and students of the University.
Some senior high school students also attended
the meeting.
“We have had the degrees and qualifications
but what have we invented. It pains me dearly that only 10 to 15 per cent of
the oil we have in Ghana belongs to us because we lack the technological
knowhow “, he said.
Dr Asiedu who invented a locally-grinding disc
for a milling machine for the Tema Cocoa Processing Company, tasked technical
university graduates to “think outside the box” and help in finding solutions
to national development challenges.
Engineering, he added, should be the
“combination of mathematics, science and technology to produce creative
solutions to real world problems.”
He lauded government’s
One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) programme saying it is the surest tool to push
rapid socio-economic growth and development.
Dr Kwame Agyemang Boakye, the STU Council’s
Chair re-echoed the critical role of science, technology and engineering and
innovations in the development of any nation and called on the government to
commit more resources to the sector.
“The difference between the developed and
developing nations is attributable to the advancement in technology, science,
engineering and innovation. If Africa and Ghana are to develop, it is
imperative to invest in science, technology and engineering”, he said.
GNA