The United States Embassy in Ghana through its Education USA programme has commenced interviews to select about four Takoradi Technical University students to receive fully funded scholarship. The selected students are part of the initial nine shortlists who have met the checklist requirement for the Education USA’s Community College Initiative (CCI).
A Public Affairs Associate of US Embassy in Ghana, Jennifer Green, together with other officials of the Education USA who are implementing the Community College Initiative said this when they called on the Registrar of Takoradi Technical University, Dr. Moses Maclean Abnory, to brief him on the programme and the selection processes.
Education USA is a US funded programme that promotes higher education among students around the world by offering accurate and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States.
Jennifer Green in her briefing expressed enthusiasm about the potential of the Community College Initiative and the opportunities it offers in grooming students. This she said will provide a significant platform for the lucky TTU students to advance their education.
“I had the privileged of meeting several alumni whether from most recently, or over the past previous years including the sales manager at Movenpick Hotel. He is a CCI graduate from Hospitality in 2010 and when they come back, is so impressive. They grow from childlike to amazing leaders and individuals full of ideas and actions. It’s amazing to watch. So we love the opportunity, the way the system is set up, they coming back to your campus to bring all of that back to your campus and to be a real critical part of your own continuous capacity building successes and it’s really designed as a tool for these individuals as it is for your institution as well”, she noted.
She also expressed hope that the Education USA programme through TTU will also reach communities surrounding TTU and other student bodies.
The Education Coordinator and Advisor at the Diplomacy Section of the US Embassy in Ghana, Rafiatu Lawal, speaking on the opportunity to study in the US, said Ghanaian students have a track record of furthering their studies in US universities, hence the Education USA initiative only seeks to offer the opportunity for more Ghanaians to school in the US.
“Apart from the exposure we are giving them through the CCI programme, we would like to also explore other opportunities. Ghana is globally the number 14 of countries that sends students to the US for graduate studies. This is because our students do very well in the US. Every institution that takes a Ghanaian student would come back asking for more. So we get to work directly with the schools and any time they get in touch with us, we want to use this opportunity to also work with you to make sure that more Ghanaian students get the opportunities to study abroad, because probably this is just for 10 people for every year but for the study abroad, it is open, as long as you have your transcript and grades, you are free to apply”, she emphasized.
The Registrar of TTU, Dr. Moses Maclean Abnory, while thanking the Education USA team for considering TTU students for the scholarship, expressed confidence in the quality of students selected.
“We can attest to the fact that our students will not disappoint you at all, they are quite discipline, very focused and your own experiences will confirm what we are saying.”, he said.
Prof. Bruce Amatey Junior who is the Dean of Student Affairs, while anticipating positive outcomes from the process said the initiative will shape students who will in turn impact the university and the community.
“It’s been a very wonderful journey with them, wanting to give our students from this side of the country that opportunity to have a blissful life, because at the end of the day, they are coming back to change their narrative both as a university and the country at large.”, he noted.
Community College Initiative programme provides scholarships to spend up to one academic year at a United States Community College, with participants building technical skills and may earn certificates in their fields of study.
Both officials TTU and the visiting Education USA team exchanged souvenirs.
