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“BREAKING BARRIERS: EORIC-UENR SECURES OVER TWO MILLION GHANA CEDIS GRANT BY CTVET/GSDF FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF A SATELLITE COMMUNICATION (SATCOM) PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.”
The Earth Observation Research and Innovation Centre (EORIC), a research arm of the University of Energy and Natural Resources has won a grant of Two Million, Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twelve Ghana Cedis, Sixty-Nine Pesewas (GHS 2,098,812.69) by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) in collaboration with the Ghana Skills Development Fund (GSDF). This funding will be allocated towards developing a Professional Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Certification Course designed to equip engineers, technicians, and entrepreneurs with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the ever-evolving SATCOM and telecommunications sector. The course will provide in-depth training and education, ensuring that aspiring professionals in this field are fully equipped with the expertise required to make a meaningful contribution to the industry.
Ing. Dr Prince Antwi-Agyei, who is the Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering and also the Chairman of the EORIC Proposals & Proposal Committee, along with Mr Evans Yaw Akpene Adom, who is a Technician at EORIC and serves as the Project Lead, successfully signed the grant contract agreement for the GSDF on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor in Accra. The signing ceremony took place on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023.
The goals of this project are to create a thorough professional Satcom Certification Course curriculum that meets both local and international standards in the satellite and telecommunications industry, establish a Satcom training hub (Centre of Excellence) in Ghana, train staff to become certified trainers in SATCOM, covering everything from basic need-to-know information to the latest advances in VSAT technology, and subsequently run the Professional SATCOM Certification course on an annual basis.
With the successful implementation of the project, EORIC-UENR will have established a cutting-edge training hub in Ghana that will focus on providing comprehensive and practical training in the field of Satellite Communication. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub where individuals can develop their skills and knowledge through hands-on experience, preparing them for successful careers in the industry.
The team responsible for the successful project proposal and subsequent implementation comprises a dedicated team of EORIC staff led by Mr Evans Yaw Akpene Adom (Project Lead) and supported by Ing. Nana Ekow Nkwa Sey (Project Co-Lead), Ing. Dr Emmanuel K. Nyantakyi (Head, EORIC), Ing. Dr Prince Antwi-Agyei (Project & Proposal Committee Chair, EORIC), Ing. Dr Martin Kyereh Domfeh (Project Coordinator), Mr Amprofi Ampah Amproche, Senior Technician.
The project will also be implemented with support from Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice-Chancellor of UENR, who was instrumental in the bidding of the grant. The project’s implementation involves various stakeholders such as the UENR management team, the EORIC staff, the Finance Directorate, the Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate, the National Communication Authority (NCA), the OASIS Network from Spain, Mawal Technologies – based in Accra, and the Satellite Television Installers Association in the Bono Region. The collective efforts of these stakeholders will undoubtedly result in the project’s successful implementation and eventual realisation of its objectives.