The Design & Technology Institute (DTI) on Thursday, May 22, 2025, handed over a refurbished and upgraded Precision Welding Demonstration Centre and Innovation Hub to Accra Technical University(ATU).
This initiative aims to strengthen Industry-Academia collaboration in implementing Precision Quality (PQ) to enhance the delivery of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana.
Precision Quality is about mindset change to embrace the value of precision industries and quality products and services in job creation.
It focuses on precision in industry, services, and processes to ensure that goods and services meet world-class quality standards.
DTI, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the ‘Transforming Youth TVET Livelihoods’ project, is unveiling Accra Technical University as one of eight TVET institutions to be adopted to implement the Precision Quality (PQ) training programme.
DTI is committed to gender equality and disability inclusion. We will collaborate with four Technical Universities and four pre-tertiary technical institutes to attract more young women and individuals with disabilities into the project.
On 4th March 2025, DTI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Accra Technical University to initiate the partnership between the two institutions.
The partnership focuses on the following key areas:
• Integrate the Precision Quality curriculum into relevant courses to support the transition of graduates into the workforce.
• Support unemployed alumni and young individuals aged 16-35 by providing a six-month upskilling programme to assist them transition into industry.
• Enhance the university’s Career Centre and offer resources and support to selected learners to establish small businesses.
Since then, fifteen Academic Scale Advisors (ASAs) and instructors have received specialised training to assist in the education of students following the PQ curriculum at the university.
About 766 students from various departments have enrolled into the precision quality programme for year one at ATU.
Upon graduation, these students will be prepared to meet global industry standards and transition smoothly into the workforce.
A total of 100 ASAs across four technical universities will be trained over the next three years as part of the project.
The ATU Precision Welding Demonstration Centre and Innovation Hub has undergone changes and now features state-of-the-art precision hand tools and facilitation rooms that will be utilised to teach Precision Welding and Fabrication over the next three years.
The project included the retooling of the Electrical and Electronics, Hotel and Hospitality Management, Welding and fabrication, Business Skills and professional Development, Fashion Design and Apparel, Kitting out and installations at an estimated cost of 2.1 million Ghana Cedis.
The Founder and President of DTI, Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, stated that the PQ curriculum is a product of the important collaboration between academia and industry professionals, carefully designed to equip young individuals with the essential skills needed for securing better job opportunities in the workplace.
The roll out of the curriculum and the handing over of a state-of-the-art welding demonstration and Innovation Hub to Accra Technical University marks a significant milestone in maintaining consistent standards in Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) delivery at our technical universities.
Ms. Swaniker further emphasised DTI’s commitment to continuing its work with stakeholders to develop programmes that address the evolving needs of academia and industry, thereby contributing to sustainable socio-economic growth and development.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, Eng. Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, emphasised: “The commissioning of the Demonstration Centre and Innovation & Incubation Hub marks a pivotal moment in our journey to redefine technical education at Accra Technical University.
This collaboration with DTI, under the support of the Mastercard Foundation, is a direct response to our mandate under the Technical Universities Act (Act 922) – to deliver industry-relevant, competency-based training that meets the demands of Ghana’s labour market.
Through the Precision Quality curriculum, we are not only equipping our students with globally competitive skills but also creating a practical bridge between the classroom and the world of work.
We are grateful to DTI and the Mastercard Foundation for their visionary partnership, and we remain committed to ensuring that this facility becomes a centre of excellence for training, youth employment, and innovation.”
The ‘Transforming Youth TVET Livelihoods’ project aims to train 31,540 young people in inclusive dual TVET and quality training, with a focus on women and persons with disabilities.
Additionally, 50,467 youth will be supported in their transition to wage employment and entrepreneurship.