The Essence of Setting up Production Units in Ghanaian Polytechnics

Abstract

Polytechnics are hi-tech institutions providing career-focused, proficiency based education, expected to work with industry to produce skilled manpower based on contemporary and future needs of industry. However, the cost of setting up fashion production unit and equipping it to the values of industry is a setback to most polytechnics. Bridging this gap between polytechnics and industries is the need to have constant supply of resources to help maintain the various units. Education and the need to achieve our goals as designers compel polytechnics to initiate measures to overcome this difficulty. This concept should help students acquire competences expected from them as professionals. Technical and Vocational Training has emerged as one of the most effectual Human Resource Development Strategies that African countries need to secure, train and update their technical labour force for rapid industrialization and national development. The study objective was to assess the impact of vocational and technical skills training in improving the socio-economic status of students in the Polytechnics. The study seeks to find out the essence of setting up production units in Polytechnics and to improve competences and skills, its achievement and purpose of increasing access of young person’s to skills attainment and empowerment for productive employment.

A simple random technique was use to sample views, and a structured questionnaire and interview guide was used for data collection. The interpretation revealed that most polytechnics do not have production units. Specifically the study seeks to unveil the essence of setting up production units in Ghanaian Polytechnics and suggest best practices in the fashion industry that could be replicated in a production unit for effective fashion education in Ghanaian Polytechnics.

Key words: Production unit, Clothing, Fashion, Garment, Manufacturing, Industrial Sewing Machine, Production Management, Equipment, Essence.