Industrial Attachment and Employability: Perspectives of Graphic Design Students and Industrial Supervisors

To provide students with career focused tertiary education that enhances employability for middle-level supervisory and managerial positions in business and industry in Ghana, the Polytechnic Act 2007, Act 754, was enacted. This Act makes it mandatory for all students to undertake Industrial Attachment. The focus of Industrial Attachment is to help enhance graduate employability through the acquisition of employable skills and knowledge, to assist students to build or improve their personal skills to increase their chances of obtaining secured jobs in their respective fields of study and to be able to contribute meaningfully to economic growth and national development (Walker II, 2011; Nunfam et al 2015). Although Graphic Design students spend six months (on different vacation periods) out of the total three years on the HND Programme on Industrial Attachment, yet most of them find it difficult to obtain jobs relating to their area of specialities, while some of those employed in the Graphic Design industry also lack the needed industrial skills to enable them to perform effectively (Nunfam et al 2015). The aim of this paper was to explore and describe the extent to which Graphic Design students of the Takoradi Technical University are equipped with industrial experience and practical skills through Industrial Attachment to enhance employability. Mixed research strategy (Qualitative and Quantitative) was employed. A case study research design was used, and research instruments employed to obtain data were survey questionnaire and interview for the collection of qualitative and quantitative data to answer the research question: What are the perceptions of students and industrial supervisors on the impact of Industrial Attachment on employability? Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 217 respondents, made up of 209 level 300 students and 8 industrial supervisors.Qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis and quantitative data was also analysed with SPSS statistics software. Students have good understanding of theoretical knowledge. However, due to ineffective collaboration between Takoradi Technical University and the various industries, and the lack of effective strategic management of the Industrial Attachment programme, some students have limited practical skills. Collaboration between Takoradi Technical University and industries is critical for the development of employability skills. For Graphic Design students to benefit from the Industrial Attachment programme, all stakeholders of Takoradi Technical University need to put in the technical expertise, resources, infrastructure, incentives and motivations to foster a seamless partnership between the University and the industries. Also, the current inadequate Industrial Attachment programme requires a critical evaluation through effective strategic management. Keywords: Technical University Education, Industrial attachment, Graphic Design, Employability skills. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-18-10 Publication date:June 30th 2020

Technology and Increasing Unemployment Rate in Ghana: The Focus on the Packaging Industry

An experiential survey shows the dawn of technology is driving many workers out of jobs in the packaging industry. The research seeks to examine the unemployment rate with the advent of technology and to assess the effects of technology on the Packaging Industry in Ghana. The study's main goal was to identify the effects of technology in the Packaging Industry, hence the needed solutions to the effects that will be evident from the study's findings. An in-depth literature review from various authors has been discussed. For this study, the Research Design employed were the qualitative and quantitative approaches to gather comprehensive views and experiences from respondents for a better understanding of technology and unemployment issues in the Packaging Industry. The methodology engaged for the study included using questionnaires and interviews to reveal significant findings from respective respondents in the Packaging Industry for practical analysis of the study. Through non-probability purpose sampling, an aggregate of 27 respondents to the study comprising 21 package design graduate workers and 6 Packaging Industry managers were selected. Consequently, the researchers' findings revealed that technology had rendered jobless some employable package design graduates in the packaging industry. It is apparent that most companies currently prefer working with a few packaging design workers to achieve more than otherwise considering the current economic hardship and the benefits technology offers the packaging industry. Keywords: Packaging Industry, Unemployment, Technology, Effects, Package design, Jobs DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-33-04 Publication date: November 30th 2022

Employee Motivation on the Organisational Growth of Printing Industry in the Kumasi Metropolis

The printing industry is supposed to be a major contributor to Ghana’s development through employment creation and the enhancement of information to the general public. The main purpose of the study was to assess employee motivation on the printing industry within Kumasi Metropolis. The study employed both the quantitative and qualitative surveys on the printing industries within the given study area with emphasis on general printing technology which has been in existence for more than three decades. The survey was intended to get employees on their responses on what they feel are the best factors that could motivate them for their self-actualisation and also meet organizational goals. The study set to identify the most ranked factor(s) among several motivated factors which existed in the sector and it emerged that Job satisfaction was the most ranked factor from the empirical findings. Keywords: Motivation, Employee Satisfaction, Performance, Organisational Goals and Industr

Analytic Study Of The Trend Of Ghanas GDP Before And After Re-basing

The fourth republican constitution came into force in 1993. Ghana statistical Service also re-based Ghanas GDP in the same year. From 1993 to 2005, the average GDP growth rate was about 4.3%. Within the period of 1993 and 2005, Ghana was still below the lower middle income level. Another re-basing took place in 2006. It is now believed that we are in the lower middle income level. The study was conducted to develop mathematical models to predict the trend of Ghanas GDP before re-basing and after re-basing in 2006, use the models before and after re-basing to predict the future trend in Ghanas GDP growth, compare our GDP growth before re-basing and after re-basing, to determine whether or not, there are fluctuations in our GDP growth and predict Ghanas per capita income status in 2015. Data on Ghanas GDP were collected from the Statistical Service Department. The GDP figures from 1993-1995 and from 1996-2010 were plotted separately on graphs. A function whose graph best fits each trend was found using regression analysis. It was observed that Ghanas GDP trends before and after re-basing was exponential. There were also no fluctuations in the growth of the economy. Ghana may still be in the lower middle income status by 2015

An Exploration of Digital Sports Betting Cravings among Female Graphic Design Students

Digital sports betting has become increasingly prevalent among university students worldwide, including female graphic design students. Despite the growing concern about its impact on their academic performance, there is a lack of research that focuses on the phenomenon of digital sports betting cravings among female graphic design students. The topic is significant as it addresses a growing issue that affects the academic success and well-being of female graphic design students. Some students have resorted to deceiving their parents/guardians to obtain money for betting in hopes of winning enough to cover their daily expenses while at university. This study examined the extent of craving for online sports betting among female Graphic Design students and how it affects their academic performance. The research design combines qualitative and quantitative methods to gather vital data from respondents. The researchers used a questionnaire and interviews with 21 randomly selected female students to collect data. The interview section helped to uncover the motivations behind their betting habits and the impact on their academic success. The results showed that financial assistance to support their university education was the main reason female Graphic Design students participated in online sports betting. Additionally, some students started betting even before reaching the tertiary level. The findings of this study have important implications, highlighting the need for key stakeholders including university administrators, counsellors and policymakers to take action to address the issue and lessen the participation of female Graphic Design students in online sports betting. Keywords:Online Sports Betting, Graphic Design, Students, Academic Performance, Craving Behaviour, Digital DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-8-05 Publication date:March 31st 202

Achieving Quality Education in Ghana: The Spotlight on Primary Education within the Kumasi Metropolis

Background: Ghana being a member of the United Nations, committed to the Universal Primary Education initiative in 2000 and has since implemented series of educational reforms to meet the target for the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2. Despite the numerous government interventions to achieve the MDG 2, many children in Ghana have been denied Quality Primary Education by the state. This has resulted in mass illiteracy among children of Primary School age, unacceptable BECE examination results and overwhelming increase in anti-social behaviour nationwide. With the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches, data was collected through the use of questionnaire and rigorous interview. Sample consisted of 8 Head Teachers, 80 Class Teachers and 40 Pupils from four Primary Schools in Kumasi and it's environ.Most respondents expressed the lack of teaching and learning materials, especially textbooks, workbooks and supplementary readers as setbacks for Quality Primary Education.Head Teachers, Teachers and Pupils of Primary Schools argued that textbooks and supplementary readers are the only tools available for most Ghanaian children to acquire knowledge and skills, absence or limited textbooks and supplementary readers in the primary school  will affect the educational foundation of school pupils. Keywords: Primary Education, Education, Quality, Textbooks, Supplementary Reader