Accra Technical University (ATU) has launched its Higher National Diploma (HND)programme in Paramedical Technology to scale up professional training in hair and scalp conditions in Ghana and beyond.
The three-year programme, the first of its kind in Africa is in partnership with the Abrantie College and is geared towards creating another opportunity for young people and practitioners to enhance their skills at the tertiary level.
The course will further create the needed platform for students to be adequately train to access and manage hair loss, scalp disorders and other related conditions which requires the attention of medical professional.
Speaking at the media launch, the Vice Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi said the HND Paramedical Trichology Programme plays a key role in the beauty and wellness space and help address challenges associated with hair and scalp conditions.
The Vice Chancellor urged students to explore merging trends in beauty and wellness to enable them be abreast with the changing needs of humanity and the society at large, adding that practitioners for the past years had informal training, short courses as well as knowledge acquired through experience.
According to him, the programme will give students the practical competencies to have an in-depth knowledge about hair, scalp disorders and provide also the appropriate medical interventions by referral to qualified medical professionals.
He however called for the establishment of a professional body to regulate the sector as part of the effort to maintain competence, ethics and professionalism within the industry.
Dr. Clement Appak, the Deputy Minister of Education in a speech read on his behalf said the HND in Paramedical Trichology is accredited at level 5 of Ghana’s eight- level National TVET Qualifications Framework to address and identify skills gap in the beauty and wellness industry.
TVET, he said is a powerful pathway to innovation, entrepreneurship, skill development for national transformation and urged students to take advantage of the programme and compete in the World of Works (WOWs).
In an address, the Head of Abrantie College, Mr. Brain Obempong, said that the sector is growing rapidly and have generated a lot of employment opportunities for young people and used the occasion to thanked the ATU for the fruitful partnership.
