Abstract:

Introduction
Industrial Attachment Training Programmes provide opportunities for students to translate theories learnt in classrooms to practical work environment by developing their own initiatives and performing assignments in a working environment. Students develop the right kind of work attitudes and professionalism through interaction with professionals in industries. The design provides detailed learning and continuous assessment approaches for measuring training delivery that is directed at the achievement of competency standards which focuses primarily on the ability of students to excel at their workplaces in future. Emphasis have been placed on students’ adaptation to work environment and the assessment of their performance based on a general criteria designed to provide feedback from the Industry-mentors to Universities for designing course contents to meet industry needs.

Research Problem Statement
In Ghana, many employers have called on universities and other tertiary education providers to ensure that the various programmes are designed to contain the relevant practical components while also meeting the skills-needs of industries. Although there have been many discussions on various platforms on how best to address this issue, other alternative approaches are being encouraged to change this worrying development.

Research/Design Objective
i) Develop comprehensive assessment methods that will support students to translate theories learnt in classrooms/laboratories in practical work environment by developing their own initiatives and performing assignments in a working environment.
ii) Open avenues for students to get readily available jobs after completion of their programme.
iii) Provide students with a dual mentorship system which will help them nurture the right kind of work attitudes and competencies through interaction with professionals and observation of their future roles in industries.
iv) Information feed back through the Assessment Form will serve as the basis for policy decisions and improvement actions by the Management of the Universities and Programme designers.

Key Research Questions
What comprehensive assessment and feedback systems can be designed to support the training of university students in Ghana to acquire modern requisite skills required by industries during industrial attachment training programmes in Ghana?
What processes will be used to support feedback information from the industries to the universities to help in the Management of School Improvement processes and the training of skilled manpower needed for the development of Ghana?

Research Methodology
The study methodology comprised of research design, instrumentation and data analysis which were carried out in the Central Region of Ghana. Qualitative data analysis was used in the form of semi-structured interview while quantitative data analysis covered semi-structured and structured questionnaires. The research instrumentation also involved interviews, questionnaires and document analysis.

Outcomes
This research design provides tertiary institutions with a comprehensive assessment and feedback system which will bring together industries and universities to provide quality and relevant education to students while making course contents relevant to market needs.

References:
Scheerens, J. Glass, C. and Thomas, S. M. (2003). Educational Evaluation, Assessment, and Monitoring. A Systematic Approach. Swets and Zeitlinger Publishers.