Businessman Sam Jonah Pushes for Africa's First Vocational University Faculty at UCC
On Saturday, August 1, Sir Sam Jonah challenged the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to become the first university in Africa to establish a full faculty of degree-awarding vocational education. Speaking at the installation of the university's new Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Gatsi Aheto, Sir Sam Jonah argued that higher education must shift from producing graduates who only possess knowledge to producing graduates with practical competence.
Vocational Education as a Path to Competence
Sir Sam Jonah believes that Ghana should stop treating vocational education as a lesser path and instead integrate it into the highest levels of academic training. He cited the rapid rise of artificial intelligence as a reason for a complete rethink of the purpose of universities. "I am proposing today that the University of Cape Coast become the first university in Africa to build a full faculty of degree-awarding vocational education — Bachelor and Master degrees in Applied Skills, with the rigour of the academy and the soul of the workshop," he said.
A New Model for African Higher Education
Under the proposed model, students would not graduate without demonstrating real competence. For example, a Bachelor of Applied Skills in Renewable Energy Systems would require students to personally install and maintain a working solar installation. Similarly, a degree in aquaculture would require students to produce a functioning fish farm, audited like a business. Engineering assessments would move beyond theory, with students required to fix a broken pump in a real-world setting.
Seizing the Moment
Sir Sam Jonah drew inspiration from Germany's apprenticeship system and reforms in China and the United States, where universities are reshaping themselves for the age of artificial intelligence. "The world's largest economies are tearing up their prospectuses. What excuse do we have for merely polishing ours?" he asked. Calling directly on Professor Aheto and the University Council, he urged them to seize the moment and make UCC the institution that leads a new era of African higher education.
A New Era for African Universities
The proposed faculty would offer degree programmes in various fields, including renewable energy, aquaculture, construction, agri-food, healthcare, and the creative industries. Sir Sam Jonah emphasized that the certificates and the competence would be reunited, with graduates emerging with practical skills that can be applied in the real world. This shift in focus would prepare African graduates for the demands of the modern economy, where what they can do is increasingly valued over what they know.
The Road Ahead
The University of Cape Coast has a unique opportunity to lead a new era of African higher education. By embracing vocational education, the university can provide graduates with the skills and competencies that are in high demand. As Sir Sam Jonah said, "Let the debate begin tomorrow in every senior common room in this country. I welcome it. But let history record where the question was first put." The question is now on the table, and it remains to be seen how the University of Cape Coast will respond to the challenge.
Source: Joy Online
