A volunteer expert from the Netherlands-based non-governmental organization, PUM, has begun a two-week working visit to Takoradi Technical University, TTU, to help enhance the University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management programmes.
Dr. Wilfred Deelen, a Senior Lecturer at HAN University of Applied Sciences and an expert in Hospitality Management, is visiting TTU under the PUM Volunteer Programme. The initiative promotes collaboration among professionals who use their expertise to support educational institutions and industries in developing capacity and exchanging knowledge globally.
Explaining the purpose of his visit, Dr. Deelen noted that his engagement forms part of efforts to support TTU’s vision of improving the quality and relevance of its Hospitality Department.
“TTU wants to make some changes in the hospitality department, and the purpose of my visit is to study your goals and desired changes, why you want to change and how you intend to realize those changes. What I am going to do is be here, listen, talk, ask questions, and read some paperwork to understand your challenges and goals,” he stated.
As part of his engagement, Dr. Deelen indicated that he would organize workshops on proposal writing, didactic skills for lecturers, and general education on tourism sustainability. His activities will also include assessing staff expertise, training needs, and available facilities, as well as reviewing the curricula for tourism and hospitality programmes in Ghana and other universities to identify best practices.
“I will organize workshops on proposal writing, didactic skills for lecturers, and education on tourism sustainability in general. We will study the expertise of the staff, their needs, training facilities, and review the curricula for tourism and hospitality in Ghana and other universities so we can learn from each other,” he added.
He further mentioned that his visit would explore opportunities for guest lectures, employment linkages, and the promotion of TTU’s image internationally.
Welcoming Dr. Deelen, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of TTU, Ing. Prof. Ebenezer Boakye, expressed the University’s readiness to collaborate with HAN University of Applied Sciences to enhance its hospitality-related programmes.
He noted that TTU currently offers diploma, HND, BTech, and master’s degrees in hospitality management, and the University is committed to developing these programmes further to meet global standards. Prof. Boakye added that TTU looks forward to establishing exchange programmes and sharing expertise between the two institutions to promote academic growth and industry-relevant training.
“We have good programmes here; diploma, HND, BTech, and master’s in hospitality; and it’s important that we continue to develop them. We are looking forward to collaborating with HAN University in the Netherlands. They do a lot of applied sciences programmes, so we need to explore how we can collaborate to build other programmes, promote exchange initiatives, and share expertise,” he said.
Dr. Deelen’s visit is expected to conclude with the development of a comprehensive action plan to guide TTU’s Hospitality Department in aligning its programmes with international standards and advancing sustainable tourism education.
