SEMESTER-OUT INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT PROGRAMME: FEEDBACK FROM TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA FASHION STUDENTS IN GHANA

ABSTRACT

The main goal of this study was to seek feedback from Technical University HND Fashion Students in identifying challenging issues with the S-O IA programme and to help confirm and document concerns of fashion students about the S-O I A programme in particular. The study adopted a crosssectional descriptive survey research design with a mixed method approach and used a semi-structured validated questionnaire for data collection. Purposive, simple random and convenient sampling techniques were used to sample 199 third year HND Fashion Students from five (5) public Technical Universities. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 20 for quantitative data using descriptive statistical tool to generate frequencies and percentages. The findings were presented in tables, a pie chart and a bar graph. Generally, the feedback on the study showed varied levels of dissatisfaction about the preparations the respondents went through prior to embarking on the S-O IA programme as most (7 out of 11) of the key issues raised scored less than 61%. It was therefore recommended that the Technical Universities work together and adopt worthwhile common strategies to ensure adequate schoolbased preparations. It was suggested that the TUILOs adopt the school-based preparation protocols and processes prescribed in the CBL/T Fashion Design Curriculum (2008-2009) with some modifications. The study also established that morale was low among some of the TUFSs. It was therefore recommended that an Industrial Training Fund (ITF) be set up by stakeholders to take care of the welfare needs of both students and staff, and for effective implementation of the S-O I A programme.