Perceptions of Stakeholders on the Industrial Attachment Programme of Ghanaian Public Polytechnics

Abstract

Industrial attachment based on experiential learning offers the most promising strategy in the development of productive and technically skilled human capital potentials of students in Ghanaian public polytechnics for the world of work. However, inadequate logistics, funding and follow-up visits and supervision of students on attachment seem to hinder the success of the industrial attachment programme of polytechnics in Ghana. This paper seeks to assess the perceptions of stakeholders on how the industrial attachment programme in selected Ghanaian public polytechnics affects the development of human capital. Mixed method and analytical research designs were employed in conducting the study with a sample of 594 respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in data analysis. The study found that the industrial attachment programme has been perceived as a catalyst to human capital development in Ghanaian public polytechnics because it serves as a perfect transition from the classroom to the world of work. The disparities in perceptions of the industrial attachment programme for each pair of the four categories of stakeholders was moderate, while disparities in the perceptions of Accra and Kumasi Polytechnics; as well as Kumasi and Takoradi Polytechnics was small. To ensure effective, efficient and holistic practical development of human capital in Ghanaian public polytechnics, experiential learning via industrial attachment should be vigorously pursued by all polytechnics in connection with its stakeholders.

Keywords: Perceptions, stakeholders, industrial attachment programme, experiential learning, Ghanaian public polytechnics