The Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Science of the University for Development Studies (FACS-UDS) and its stakeholders have met to review its curriculum to make the programme meaningful to the corporate world.
The four-year programme, which is one of the new faculties, had already trained two batches of students.
Authorities of the universities are seeking to enhance the programme to equip students with entrepreneurial skills to be able to start their own business.
Prof Amin Alhassan, Dean of FACS-UDS, who spoke at the four-day review meeting in Tamale on Thursday, said one of the major issues that had come up strongly to be looked at was the institution of an Agribusiness Innovation Center at the faculty to mentor students to be self-reliant.
“Some of the suggestions from the break-out session are that there is the need to have such a facility, which will have successful businessmen sharing practical experiences and groom students on how to generate and transform ideas, seek funding and maintain business”, he said.
According to the Dean the meeting observed that the current credit hours of 180 for students was above the required minimum prescribed by the National Accreditation Board, which is 120 and needed to be reduced.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, expressed satisfaction at the move and said it was crucial especially at the time when the country was going through challenges as well as high rate of graduate unemployment.
He said the meeting was ideal and that it would strengthen and grow the partnership between the academia and industry to come out of its economic and social doldrums.
“Government and parents are now looking to the private sector to come out with the magic wand to provide employment for the youth but when students are equipped with the requisite knowledge they can be on their own”, he said.
Source: GhanaWeb
