Professor Thomas Kwadwo Djan-Fordjour, the new Rector of Sunyani Polytechnic said at the weekend his vision "is to ensure the institution becomes a pre-eminent institution recognized nationally and word-wide for Polytechnic Education". Speaking at his investiture in Sunyani he said he would team up with the Management staff of the Institute to work towards securing accreditation of new programmes. He mentioned Bachelor of Technology (Hospitality and Tourism Management), Bachelor of Technology (General Agriculture), Bachelor of Technology (Electrical/Electronic Engineering), High National Diploma (HND) Wood Technology and HND Computer Science Engineering Technology, among the new programmes. Additionally, Prof Djan-Fordjour said his administration would work to introduce Master of Technology in Building as well as top-up degree programmes in Secretaryship and Management Studies, as well as Accounting and Marketing. The new Rector noted the road map to achieving the planned goal would entail effective management of existing resources and provision of some of the factors that facilitate achieving the vision as outlined in the government White Paper on Education Reform Review, 2007. Prof. Djan-Fordjour said he would work towards bringing together a good crop of experienced, dedicated and well qualified staff through effective and rigorous recruitment processes, organisation of workshops, seminars to train and upgrade skills of staff in ICT management for effective teaching and learning. On student admissions, Prof. Djan-Fordjour said gender issues would be considered seriously in line with national and institutional aspirations. He, however, added: "The number of students will however be matched with available resources", whilst staff and student consultative interaction would be promoted for democratic governance of the Institute." Skills training/industrial attachment and Action Research-oriented experiences, student projects and other practically-oriented activities will be encouraged to enhance teaching, learning and entrepreneurial skills development, Prof Djan-Fordjour said. He expressed appreciation to the Council of the Polytechnic for appointing him and promised that his actions and decisions in the management of the institution would be guided by the Polytechnics Act 2007, Act 745, S-POLY Statutes, the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and other relevant laws. He called for the co-operation of the Council, the Academic Board, POTAG, PAAG, TEWU and all unions on the Polytechnic's campus to build an enviable Polytechnic. In a welcoming address, Mr. Kwaku Owusu, Vice Rector, paid tribute to the out-going Rector, Prof. Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, for his immense contribution to the development of the Polytechnic. He admonished the staff and students of the Polytechnic to extend assistance to Prof. Djan-Fordjour to enable him to succeed in his administration. Mr. Stephen Kofi Mensah, acting chairman of the Polytechnic's Council, noted that the institution was one of the Polytechnics "credited with charting the path for others to follow", citing the introduction of the 'Lecture Series Concept' which was being replicated in other Polytechnics and some Universities. He said the S-POLY was looking up to Prof-Djan-Fordjour to initiate new ideas, projects and programmes that would make the Institute stand out among others. "Please work hard to introduce more demand-driven programmes that will make the Polytechnic earn the accolade of 'Polytechnic of Choice'. Mr. Eric Opoku, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, reiterated the call on tertiary institutions, including the Polytechnics, to tailor their training policies to the needs of industry. "It is unacceptable for the country to continue to import expertise when a lot of our skilled youth remain unemployed". Among the dignitaries at the function were Nana Bosoma-Asor Nkrawiri 11, Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area, his queen-mother, Nana Yaa Nyamaah and Bishop Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi of the Sunyani Catholic Diocese. Source: GNA