UEW, Trainora Launch CERT-APART, Commission Pearson VUE Testing Centre
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in partnership with Trainora Consult has launched the CERT-APART professional certification preparation programme and commissioned a Pearson VUE International Authorised IT Testing Centre to expand access to globally recognised professional certifications and strengthen students’ career readiness.
Launched and commissioned on Tuesday, 29th September 2026, at UEW, the dual initiative complements academic education with industry-recognised professional competencies, directly responding to the rapidly changing demands of the modern workforce.
The Pearson VUE centre is the first International Authorised IT Testing Centre of its kind in the Central Region and connects UEW to Pearson VUE’s global certification examination network. It will provide students, staff, professionals and the general public with access to computer-based certification examinations from leading organisations including Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, Amazon Web Services, EC-Council, ISC2, Pearson IT Specialist and the Project Management Institute.
The certifications cover areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, networking, information technology, digital productivity and project management.
Chairing the ceremony, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, the Vice-Chancellor of UEW, said the Centre represented more than an examination facility, describing it as a new pathway to professional opportunity for students and the wider public.
He noted that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and other digital technologies is transforming the world of work and requires universities to prepare graduates with both academic knowledge and professionally recognised practical competencies.
Prof. Mitchual said the Centre would bring international certification opportunities closer to UEW students and other users while enabling students to complement their degrees with credentials that demonstrate what they can do in addition to what they know. He further observed that the initiative had the potential to contribute to addressing graduate unemployment by equipping young people with skills that could open opportunities beyond the local job market including digitally enabled work with organisations outside Ghana.
“It's about attitude. It's about willingness. It's about passion. It's about what you want to design for your future,” he told students, encouraging them to take advantage of the professional development opportunities the Centre would provide.
The Vice-Chancellor said the Centre and CERT-APART would work together to offer students a pathway to "learn, prepare, certify and advance" while they pursue their academic programmes at UEW. He expected the Centre and CERT-APART to become a major platform for international certification, digital skills development, professional advancement and lifelong learning for UEW, the Central Region and Ghana as a whole.
The UEW-Trainora partnership developed the CERT-APART programme to deliver structured preparation for professional certifications rather than just handing out certificates. To inspire learners to earn relevant professional credentials, the programme unites global learning resources, optional learning support, leadership development, mentorship, professional certification competitions and job-matching opportunities.
Mr. Foster Oppong Baah, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gumption Excell, disclosed that the Pearson VUE testing centre had become active globally on the day of the commissioning, making it possible for candidates to locate the facility through Pearson VUE and book examinations.
He explained that the Centre had undergone the required processes for authorisation and was equipped with security and monitoring systems consistent with Pearson VUE requirements. He further disclosed that Trainora would train 10 UEW students to join the team of certified test administrators with the training scheduled to commence immediately.
Mr. Baah said the establishment of the Centre had placed UEW within Pearson VUE’s global network of examination centres and commended the University and its partners for providing the institutional and technical support required to bring the project to fruition.
