The Design and Technology Institute (DTI), a world class TVET training institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kumasi Technical University.

The MOU is meant to strengthen the implementation of Precision Quality (PQ) training towards excellence in measurements, standards and specifications among learners in the TVET space.

A Precision Quality curriculum was also given to the University together with the promise to adopt one workshop.

The overall objective is to help churn out top-notch professionals in the TVET space capable of executing critical works and product deliveries.

Chief Executive of DTI, Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, said the initiative will be crucial in bridging the skills gap.

She believes it will curb the use of expatriates, especially in the mines and oil and gas industry.

“Industry trends change so rapidly and so there’s the need for institutions to bridge competences to meet the needs of industry.

“We shouldn’t have students graduating and they can't get a job and industry shouldn’t use that as an excuse to bring foreign labour.

“If you look at the local content bill, if there’s an industry gap that cannot be filled, it is up to the foreign industries to then train our students in those missing skills,” she said.

The MoU with the Kumasi Technical University forms part of DTI’s collaborative strategy to work with stakeholders to reach the objective under the “Transforming youth TVET livelihood for sustainable jobs project” in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation’s ‘Young Africa Work strategy’, which sought to enable three (3) million young people, particularly women to access dignified and fulfilling work opportunities by 2030.

The three-year project seeks to create 40,000 direct and indirect work opportunities for the youth, especially young women, through TVET.

Under the project, DTI would recruit and train 1,000 youth in Precision Fabrication and work readiness, improve on the work skills and practices of 5,000 master craft persons and 1,000 SMES through the Precision Quality (PQ) training programme.

Again, more than 5,000 students and 100 instructors in selected TVET Universities would also benefit from the training which would also benefit many young apprentices in trade and businesses.

The PQ training programme was developed by industry players and certified by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) for introduction into the academic studies of Technical Universities.

The Vice Chancellor of the Kumasi Technical University, Prof. Nana Osei-Wusu Achaw was happy the collaboration will make the students more employable in Ghana’s growing industrial sector.

He appealed to DTI to establish a branch of the Institute at the University.

“Instead of coming here to collaborate, maybe you can look at establishing a branch of the institution in the University,” he said.

The Trained Academic Scale Advisors (ASA) and instructors would train the students extensively in Precision Quality to ensure they gain relevant industry skills and adhere to global industry standards when they graduate to enter the world of work.

The PQ curriculum consists of five training modules namely; Change to Grow, Process Integration, People and Team Development, Health and Safety in the Workplace and Managing Quality and Customer Relations.