Accra Technical University (ATU), in partnership with Abrantie College, has launched a Higher National Diploma (HND) Paramedical Trichology programme in Accra  to address scalp and hair health conditions through structured tertiary education.

The Level five competency-based qualification, developed under the guidance of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skills Body, represents a landmark shift in the health, wellness and beauty educational landscape.

The three-year tertiary course bridges the gap between traditional cosmetology and medical trichology.

It provides a formal academic progression route for over 8,000 cosmetologists and beauty practitioners who previously lacked higher education pathways in their specialised field.

The industry-driven curriculum equips students with scientific foundations and practical competencies to analyse scalp conditions, deliver non-medical interventions and identify cases requiring advanced medical care.

Stakeholders, academic heads, regulatory agencies and industry partners gathered at the media launch to usher in the pioneer qualification, which aims to professionalise hair health care and establish the country as an African hub for advanced technical training.

Speaking at the media launch , the Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, Professor Amevi Acakpovi, said tertiary education must directly address market demands rather than train students for redundant occupations.

He stated that the university developed the initiative to provide structured academic pathways for hair and scalp care, moving the sector away from informal training.

Prof. Acakpovi said partnership combined ATU's academic quality assurance with the practical industry experience of Abrantie College.

For his part, the Head of Abrantie College, Brian Obempong, highlighted the long-standing perception of the beauty and wellness industry as a field restricted to lower-level qualifications.

He said despite training thousands of cosmetologists over the past decade, practitioners lacked academic progression routes until the strategic partnership with ATU.

Mr Obempong stated that the hair and scalp care industry represented a global market exceeding $90 billion, with scalp disorders affecting over 60 per cent of adults.

In an address read on his behalf by the Director of TVET, Rejoice Danquah, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, described the initiative as a major milestone for national transformation.

He affirmed that technical vocational education and training served as a primary driver for innovation, entrepreneurship and employment.

He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to building seamless TVET frameworks without educational dead ends.

Dr Apaak urged the pioneer student cohort to demonstrate high professional standards.