From next academic year, the College of Art and Built and Environment(CABE) would introduce new demand driven undergraduate and postgraduate academic programmes namely Bsc. Jewellery and Metal Smith Technology, Bsc. Textile Design Technology, BSc. Fashion Design, Ceramic Design and Technology, Msc. Facilities Management and Msc. Transportation Planning which is a collaboration between the Department of Planning and the Department of Civil Engineering of the College of Engineering, KNUST.
Professor Joshua Ayarkwa, Provost of the made this known at the 52nd Congregation Ceremony of the University during the graduation ceremony of his College.
The Provost in his address said CABE stated that employability is central in the training and programmes of the College in preparing students to meet the challenges of industry.
He added that the programmes have been designed to address unemployment through skills acquisition training to support manpower development and for graduates to set up businesses in real estate, construction, jewellery, furniture, sculpture, metal smiting, ceramics, textiles and fashion technology, photography among others. He continued that other graduates also train and employ others in reducing unemployment in the country.
Professor Ayarkwa stated that during the year under review, research activities in the College improved with 274 publications from researchers in journals and conference proceedings. On infrastructure he noted that the 9 Storey-Lecture and Office Complex is also under construction with ASIB Limited as contractors. He said the Complex is being financed from Internally Generated Funds(IGF) with support from industry, alumni and benefactors.
He thanked benefactors of the College particularly Professor El Anatsui, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama for their donations and funding to the College and other benefactors.
In his motivational speech, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, a PhD student and an alumnus of the College, using his life as an example, encouraged the graduands to make use of the world class training acquired and emerging technology to succeed in both art and built environment disciplines.
Mr. Mahama said after graduating, he came up with innovative ideas using jute bags and sacks, to mount exhibitions all over the world which caught the attention of the international community.
He added that he is earning from his works and encouraged the graduands to form good partnerships to enhance their practice to succeed.
Miss Ernestina Yeboah, the Valedictorian, called for publication and research uptake of student’s final year project works to help in the development of the country.
This year, the College graduated 65 postgraduates and 848 undergraduates. comprising 649 males and 199 females. Out of the total number of undergraduates, 119 graduands representing 12.85% had first class ,513 representing 61.67%obtained Second Class Upper, with 205 representing 24.1% obtaining Second Class Lower and 11 students representing 1.2% graduated with a pass.