Author Archives: agihl

With the CBT Based training, Research and practical practice at AGIHL aims to develop innovative solutions to the world’s most daunting engineering challenges.  From addressing the mechanical and agricultural needs of tomorrow to improving already existing mechanizations.  AGIHL’s research efforts are enhanced through creative collaborations with leading technical/industrial intuitions and as wells as gifted individuals.

Compiled here are just some a few of AGIHL labs and training centers where cutting-edge research and development are taking place.

• E-Library
• Mechanical Engineering Lab
• Mechatronics Lab
• Renewable Energy Technology Lab
• Agriculture Mechanization Lab
• Civil Engineering Lab
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering Lab

The Rector of Assemblies of God Institute of Higher Learning is Prof. Ernest Owusu-Ansah (AGIHL). He is a biomedical chemistry professor. 2009 saw Prof graduate from the University of Bristol with a PhD in chemistry. Professor spent the majority of his career at the University of Cape Coast’s chemistry department (UCC). He was hired by the department of chemistry at UCC to serve as an academic advisor to the chemistry students from September 2001 to May 2005. He was the chemistry department’s registration officer from November 2001 to September 2005. He joined the academic planning committee between August 2004 and September 2005.

He was appointed department head in the department of laboratory technology from November 2009 until August 2013. From August 2013 to July 2015, Prof served as the school of physical sciences’ deputy dean. From October to November 2013, he served as the pro-vice-chancellor and interim vice chancellor. He was appointed Dean of the school of allied sciences from August 2015 until August 2016. Prof. Ernest Owusu-Ansah has conducted numerous investigations and published his findings in the fields of toxicology, using natural products to manage insect pests, and treating infections that affect both plants and people. Prof serves on the national accrediting board’s panel of assessors and is member of the Assemblies of God Church, Dadiesoaba, Kumasi.

AGIHL’s diverse community — comprising students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners and more – work together on more than research and education. Outside of the classroom, student clubs, staff organizations and religious life groups are just some of the ways community comes together at the Institute.

The education system in Ghana founded by the British remains largely unchanged even after over half a century of independence.  Since the trend was to train manpower to run government businesses, institutions were set up with specific mandates for training of personnel.  The mode of delivery since then has always been knowledge-based training.  Although technical schools were also set up to help train the middle level manpower industrial needs for the country, it has not fully achieved the intended purpose.

The emphasis of successive governments was on building more Secondary Schools at the expense of Technical Schools.  Technical education has not seen rapid expansion because of the perception that it is for those who are academically challenged.  Again, in terms of further education in the field, not much provision has been made.  Though the Polytechnics were set up as a channel to further educate students from Technical Schools, it has many challenges, including the lack of equipment, lack of trained tutors, and the general apathy based on misconception.

The mode of delivery in the few existing Technical Schools has also been basically knowledge-based training. Unfortunately, this training has not seen much success because the Technical Schools lack basic equipment, as well as the deficiency in teachers regarding skills and relevant competencies in skills-based training.

AGIHL believes that skill development based on Competency-Based Training (CBT) should be the way forward.  This will call for the overhaul of the entire technical education curriculum and the re-training of its facilitators.

As of now, the major challenge facing the country is the overproduction of University graduates with little or no skills chasing non-existent jobs, which has led to the now high level of unemployment.  The multi-dimensional effects include lack of confidence in the education system, which will eventually affect the enthusiasm of parents investing in their children’s education.

An attempt to move in the technical direction has led to a premature conversion of six out of the ten Polytechnics into Technical Universities.  This is coming with a huge cost of writing new curriculum which should be placed on Competency-Based Training platform with an emphasis on skill development and training of facilitators using proper equipment.

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD INITIATIVE

To compliment government efforts in improving Technical education and making it the sure means to providing employable skills to the people of Ghana, the ASSEMBLIES OF GOD, GHANA, as part of its corporate and social responsibility is embarking on establishing a Technical University as an educational initiative.  At the beginning of 2015, the Church sought help from the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) to write a Competency-Based Training (CBT) curriculum with emphasis on skill development.  The National Accreditations Board (NAB) has granted the Institutional Accreditation, and in a few weeks will also grant the Programmes Accreditation.  As it stands now, COTVET has approved six programmes for the start of ASSEMBLIES OF GOD INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING (AGIHL) in Kumasi.

The programmes Approved by COTVET, and Accredited by NAB are as follows:

1. Tech in Agricultural Mechanisation
2. Tech in Renewable Energy Technology
3. Tech in Mechatronics
4. Tech in Electrical / Electronic Engineering
5. Tech in Civil Engineering (with emphasis on environmental issues, civil works, construction and management, roads and highways)
6. Tech in Mechanical Engineering (with emphasis on welding and fabrication, plant processing, design and manufacturing, automotive)

The University already have Lecture Halls and Offices, Library, E-Library fitted with 33 computers, ICT centre with 50 computers, connected to the Internet.

The University of Education Winneba, through its Kumasi campus, has granted needed affiliation, though with limited involvement. This is because though the University run technical programmes, the levels are not high enough for them to mentor another technical institution.  However, since they serve as the only facilitators of the CBT programmes in the nation; their affiliation has been accepted by the NAB.