The Sunyani Technical University (STU) has officially matriculated 4,222 students at a colourful ceremony at the University’s main auditorium. This figure represents 62.3% of prospective students who were issued admission letters by the University.
This year’s enrolment figure shows an increase of 25.6% over last year’s figure of 3,362.
Out of the total enrolment, 2,756, representing 65.3%, are males, whilst 1,466, representing 34.7%, are females.
Addressing the 29th matriculation of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah explained that 111, representing 2.6%, enrolled in Graduate (Master’s) degree programmes; 3,681, representing 87.2%, enrolled in Bachelor’s degree (BTech/BSc.) programmes; and 430, representing 10.2%, enrolled in Higher National Diploma and other Diploma programmes.
In terms of disciplines, the Vice-Chancellor continued, 2,724, representing 64.5%, enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and TVET Programmes, as against 1,498, representing 35.5%, which enrolled in Business and Administration (Humanities) programmes.
This, he stressed, implies that the University is on track “as we have met the 60/40 ratio requirement for STEM related programmes as against Humanities in Technical Universities, per the National Education Policy on STEM.”
Ing. Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah noted that this significant rise in the student enrolment at the University can be attributed to a number of factors including good performance of our students in the world of work, commercialization of the academic programmes the University offers through various platforms such as social media, radio stations etc. as well as the introduction of new demand-driven Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in the Institution.
“This calls for a more intensive enrolment drive to continuously improve the annual enrolment in new and existing academic programmes at the University. When patronage of such industry-driven programmes is improved in the University, it would contribute to the production of more skilled graduates who can readily find jobs or set up their own businesses to reduce the unbridled youth unemployment rates in the country in recent times.”
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University currently runs 91 fully accredited academic programmes namely, 13 Master of Technology (MTech), 30 Bachelor’s programmes (BTech. and BSc.), 23 Higher National Diploma (HND), 5 Diploma and 20 Other Non-Tertiary TVET programmes.
He urged all prospective students, both local and foreign, to enroll on the industry-oriented programmes at the STU to acquire the requisite knowledge, technical, professional and entrepreneurial skills that will make them readily employable or enable them set up their own companies.
End of Service Benefit policy
The Vice-Chancellor announced that in recognition of the meritorious services rendered by some retired members of staff to uplift the image of the University, Management of the University, has fully implemented the New Conditions of Service for Unionized Staff of Technical Universities (TUs) in Ghana for Sunyani Technical University Staff who proceed on retirement.
He said the University Council approved the End of Service Benefit (ESB) Policy in September 2024.
“The major thrust of the ESB Policy is the payment of one-month basic salary, for each year served, as ESB to every Staff who retire from the University, starting from September 2021. Although some parts of the payments are in arrears, the University has begun to make full payments to qualified staff, starting from the year 2022.
As part of the occasion, sixteen staff who retired from the University in the year 2022 were presented with their End of Service Benefits.
In attendance were the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Justice Solomon Korantwi-Barimah; the Director of Finance, Mr Thomas Kwarfo; the Deputy Registrars of Academic and Human Resource Development, Mr. Job Manu and Mr. Stephen Yeboah respectively; Deans, Heads of Department and Members of Convocation, among others.