The Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development is in dire shortage of residential accommodation, leaving over 29 thousand students seeking accommodation outside campus. 

The institution, with a student population of more than 30 thousand, accommodates less than 5% of them on its campuses in the Ashanti Region. 

The university is also in need of educational facilities to cope with the increasing number of students.

The Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development has been recording increases in admissions since becoming autonomous in 2020. 

This year, 11,027 admitted applicants registered to increase the student population to 30,453.

These newly admitted students, along with other thousands have had to scout for accommodation beyond the walls of the school due to the unavailability of student housing on campus.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo, is appealing to government, individuals, and organizations to support the institution's multifaceted inadequacies. 

“With a student population of more than 30,453, we are unable to accommodate even 5% of them on each campus. We need more student residential accommodations, lecture halls, workshops, and laboratories with modern tools and equipment to cope with the increasing number of students.

“The 3,500-capacity Convention Center project has been abandoned for over a decade. The University has made several efforts towards the completion of the project. I wish to add to appeal to individuals, business organizations, and other stakeholders to support the University in pursuing its TVET and Entrepreneurial Agenda,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor was speaking at the 2nd congregation, conferring 1,190 students with Certificates, Diplomas, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD Degrees.

Despite the challenges, Prof. Kwaku Sarfo indicated the university is making strides to improve skills training and resources at the school. 

The university graduated its first PhD student in Educational Leadership and Doctor of Philosophy.

Academic programmes at the University have increased from 42 to over 120.

“We have improved the Students’ Internship Programme, Workplace Experience Learning, Supported Teaching in Schools, and Industrial Attachment, to make training of students more practical.

“We have strengthened our collaborations and partnerships with about thirty-five (35) local institutions and companies and about twenty-five (25) international agencies and institutions. We have acquired and secured all legal documents on the University’s land and developed a master plan for the future and effective use of the land resource,” he said.

Chairman of the University Governing Council, Paul Kwasi Agyemang, also added that: “This graduation ceremony largely inducts them into the world of work as agents of development, nationally and internationally. We are confident that they would greatly impact industry and society as a whole”.