The Department of Chemical Engineering was established in 1996 to primarily provide training in Chemical Engineering at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level. Since its establishment, the Department has been at the forefront of defining the frontiers of the field and has produced technically competent, responsible, and professional graduates who are serving in diverse portfolios within the chemical and allied industries in Ghana. Some of the sectors that absorb graduates from the Department include petrochemical industry, oil and gas processing, mineral processing, food processing, energy, pharmaceuticals, environmental regulation, confectionery, construction, soaps and cosmetics.
In 2013, the Department commenced a top-up Bachelor of Technology (BTech) programme in Chemical Engineering with financial support from the Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund (TALIF). The B.Tech programme was developed to impart HND graduates with the requisite knowledge, attitudes and employable skills for industry while providing them with academic and career progression needs. The programme was accredited in September 2013, and officially commenced at the beginning of the 2013/2014 academic year with 24 students. The first batch of students graduated in June 2016.
With the passage of the Technical Universities (Amendment) Act 2018, the University obtained approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to develop four-year programmes. Consequently, the Department obtained accreditation from GTEC to run a four-year, competency-based BTech programme in Chemical Engineering. The programme combines the core functional competencies at the HND and top-up BTech levels into a four-year BTech degree. The Programme prepares graduates for various future career paths and life-long learning, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
To further provide advanced education and training in chemical engineering and academic progression needs of the graduates of the B.Tech programme, the Department introduced a two-year masters programme with one-year thesis work focused on finding solutions within the chemical and allied industries. The programme was commenced in 2019 and the first batch of students graduated in 2022.
