Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) and Zhong Xing Telecommunication (ZTE) University, on Tuesday signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the areas of resource sharing and training. According to the agreement, the two sides will implement a long-term cooperation and offer resource sharing to each other in the training sector to enhance professional development and learning skills. As part of the deal, ZTE will help establish a training centre with a practice laboratory to help enhance capacity building and professional development of students and lecturers. Osei Darkwa, President, GTUC and Judy He, Managing Director of ZTE Ghana Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. The deal will also lead to the enhancement of the professional skills of GTUC and ZTE staff through training, staff interactions and exchange of experiences and information and the joint initiation and implementation of technical training programmes. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communication, said it was government's determination to transform the college to a full fledged university to offer Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training to the youth to help accelerate the country's economic development.
In this direction, government is in negotiation with Vodafone Ghana to ensure that the University College runs as an autonomous institution. Iddrisu said the outcome of the negotiations might lead to some job losses but government was appealing to management of Vodafone to ensure that decisions taken reflect the collective bargaining agreement of the workers and that it was fair and equitable. He said the university was key to ICT development and education, especially in providing open access to many qualified Ghanaians, who currently did not have access to the country's training institutions. Darkwa, President of GTUC emphasized the need for application of technology in raising effectiveness and quality of education and to prepare the people to participate in the global economy. The educational platform resulting from the collaboration would enable them reach out to students outside the capital city.
