TCC-CIMET, GTVET Meet Artisans at Suame Magazine on Government’s WEL Initiative

TCC-CIMET, GTVET Meet Artisans at Suame Magazine on Government’s WEL Initiative

The TCC International Centre for Innovation, Manufacturing, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (TCC-CIMET), in collaboration with the Ghana Technical Vocational Educational Training Service (GTVET), has engaged artisans at Suame Magazine as part of ongoing efforts under the Government’s Workplace Experiential Learning initiative.

The meeting focused on initiating dialogue with local artisans to explore opportunities for students in the technical institutions to work with them in their establishments. This engagement forms a critical step toward aligning grassroots innovation with national development priorities.

Ashanti Regional Director for Ghana Technical Vocational Educational Training (GTVET) Mr. Richard Addo Gyamfi explained the concept of workplace experiential learning to the artisans.

“There is a significant gap between what students are taught in school and what is actually practiced in the workplace, and this is the gap we aim to bridge.

For instance, a student may be able to list the importance of a spanner because their training has been largely theoretical. However, if asked to demonstrate how a spanner is used to remove a bolt, the same student may struggle because they have not received sufficient hands-on training. This is precisely why the WEL initiative is so important.

The government, in collaboration with industry and academia, recognizes that for students to be truly workplace-ready, they must gain practical experience. That is why we are working to place students in your workshops, where they can learn directly from you and understand how things are done on the ground, he said.

He also took participants through the key stakeholders of the initiative, the roles of schools, students, parents, and artisans in ensuring its success and how the process works.

“There are several key stakeholders in this initiative, including schools, parents, students, and industry players such as yourselves. The process begins with a Memorandum of Participation between your workshop and the school. This is followed by an official letter from the school, along with a consent form completed by the student.

As part of your role, you will be required to ensure that certain standards are met, including verifying that students report with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and adhere to basic safety requirements while in the workplace,” he said.

The meeting was facilitated by the Technology Transfer Production Unit (TTPU) of TCC-CIMET. It follows a collaboration between the Ghana TVET Service and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology aimed at strengthening and advancing technical and vocational education in the country.