Kumasi Polytechnic tops ranking of Polytechnics

• Posted on August 28, 2014August 28, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Kumasi Polytechnic has been ranked national best of all ten polytechnics, and 11th among all tertiary institutions in Ghana.

Latest ratings by Spain-based world-acclaimed research body, Webometric Ranking of World’s Universities place Kumasi Polytechnic 194th of more than 700 higher education institutions in Africa.

The rankings, published on www.webometrics.info is the lastest to be released by that international body.

Authorities of Kumasi Polytechnic are excited about ranking which recognizes academic excellence and related activities.

The Kumasi Polytechnic scored 5, 442 points for academic excellence and 17,468 for impact assessment.

The Polytechnic Administration says the school’s good quality academic programs and highly qualified staff account for the feat.

The polytechnic has in recent times received several local and international grants for research into technology.

The Kumasi Polytechnic last year received a grant of GHC 1.4 million to set up a technology and training center for the development and promotion of renewable energy and efficiency technologies in Ghana.

Made possible through the Skills Development Fund of the Council of Technical Vocational Education and Training(COVET),  the center  is expected to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing practical training to address the needs of small and medium scale enterprises in solar energy, among others.

This year’s achievement comes as a vast improvement over last year when the school was adjudged number 25 in Ghana.

Leaders University of Ghana, ranked 3, 944 and 1, 455 in impacts and excellence, making it 21st best in tertiary institution in Africa are followed by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology which ranks 43 in Africa.

University of Cape Coast occupies third best slot in Ghana and ranked 62nd in Africa.

Though officials of Kumasi Polytechnic are excited, celebration has been put on hold pending a return of striking lecturers who have just called off their action over book and research allowance, and students.

Elated Rector of Kumasi Polytechnic, Professor Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah, says the ranking means K-Poly is the best Polytechnic in Ghana, rubbing shoulders with top-most tertiary institutions.

“We have been ranked the eleventh best in Ghana; the best polytechnic in Ghana and the best celebration is when the lecturers come. That alone is enough. And I’m happy that the staff here are anxious to celebrate this”, Professor Nsowah-Nuamah said.

According to Professor Nsowah-Nuamah, the ranking puts pressure on stakeholders to maintain and even improve the standard.

“It encourages us one to do more, it also gives pride to the students and staff of the institution. So for me it puts on higher level and then it also puts pressure on you to maintain that”, he explained.

By: Ohemeng Tawiah