Linking Tertiary Institutions to Industries: Evidence from the Vocational and Technical Education Department of the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

Despite the various reforms and attempts to relate the school curricula to the world of work, very few studies have been carried out to investigate the constraints and challenges of industrial and institutional linkages. This paper investigates specifically the department of Vocational and Technical Education (VOTEC) of the University of Cape Coast and the inability of the department to link its students with industries, a requirement of the University Curricula to propel its graduates into the world of work. Based on data from 60 respondents from within the university and industry, this paper argues that even though there is awareness of the need for these linkages, the curricula does not adequately cover practices in the actual industries. The results have important policy implications for curriculum and training of students in the VOTEC department and other institutions that provide similar training.