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GTUC-Jiangsu University partnership agreement launched

By
Iddi Yire, GNA

Accra, Oct. 18, GNA
– The Ghana Technology University College (GTUC) and the Jiangsu University of
Science and Technology in China, have launched a five-year partnership
agreement in Accra.

Key among the
agreement was to see GTUC faculty members being given the opportunity to
benefit from fully sponsored PhD scholarship over the period of five years.

The first batch of
faculty members selected to pursue their PhD programmes at Jiangsu University
include Mr Samuel Akwesi Frimpong, Mr John Agyekum Addai, Mr Isaac Baffour
Senkyere, Mr Yaw Otu-Larbi Siaw and Madam Philomena Pomaa Ofori.

Speaking at the
launch of the partnership in Accra, Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, Acting
President of GTUC, said the partnership would help to strengthen the ties
between both universities, which would lead to the establishment of close
cooperative relationship for superior academic and research collaborations.

He said from the
individual perspective, investment in doctoral education was rather costly – in
terms of fees, subsistence and foregone earnings – and lengthy.

Prof Afoakwa said
this was why as part of the partnership, management has negotiated for the full
sponsorship of 25 faculty members to the tune of ¥4,800,000 (Chinese Yuan)
towards the pursuit of their PhDs in various fields of study over next five
years at Jiangsu University.

He said over the
next five years, five faculty members would be sent to Jiangsu University every
year for further studies to obtain their terminal degrees.

He said as part of
their package, management was also supporting their scholarship with full study
leave with pay and pre-financing of their air tickets, adding “they will also
receive a monthly stipend of ¥1,000 (CNY) from Jiangsu University as living
allowance towards their studies”.

He said the
memorandum of understanding (MoU) would also seek to foster development between
both institutions in the areas of faculty and student exchange, organization of
international seminars/conferences, coordination in joint research projects and
planning of other cooperation programs.

He expressed the
hope that this arrangement would not only ensure the professional development
of their faculty members but also prepare GTUC towards becoming a fully-fledged
public university.

Prof Afoakwa said
GTUC would also continue to give its students the needed support while ensuring
the provision of an enabling environment for quality teaching, learning,
research, intellectual creativity, innovation, service and entrepreneurial
skills to the community.

On his part, Mr Shi
Ting Wang, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, said both Chinese and Ghanaian
parents are willing to invest in their children’s education because they
believe knowledge changes destiny and investing in education equates to
investing for the future.

He said the secret
of China’s development miracle was the assiduous effort to convert China from a
country with illiteracy rate of 80 per cent to a great power on human
resources.

Mr Wang said China is
fully aware of the importance of education in the country’s development, and
places educational cooperation, a priority in China-Ghana cooperation.

He said this year,
its visa section has issued more than 1,500 students visas to Ghanaians; among
them, 310 were awarded full scholarships provided by Chinese Government.

Mr George Andah,
Minister of Communications, said Ghana’s national development only stands to
benefit from increased access to education.

He said bridging the
gap between academic knowledge and professional experience was the key to
accelerating national development.

Mr Andah said the
Management of GTUC has shown that they were constantly looking for ways to
provide a unique educational experience that is characterized by an underlying
focus on research and professional development.

GNA

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