The 2021 Virtual Special Congregation ceremony was held at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi for graduate undergraduate and postgraduate students who completed their respective courses of study.
KNUST graduate 4,472 students
Overall, 4,472 students graduated, including 814 undergraduates and 3,658 postgraduates. In terms of gender, the University graduated 1,563 females, accounting for 34.95 percent of the total number of graduates. Ninety-one (91) postgraduate students were awarded Ph.D.s, with twenty-eight (28) of them being female. This is an increase from the previous year’s number of five females.
His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II call on the Government of Ghana to assist in upgrading its ICT infrastructure
In his address, the Chancellor of (KNUST), His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, urged the government to assist the university in . He stated that the University has taken measures to develop its ICT infrastructure on its own.
The sudden move to online activities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, on the other hand, necessitates a substantial investment in ICT infrastructure to adequately sustain academic and administrative work. He said that this has resulted in a funding challenge.
KNUST Chancellor urged TELCOS to lower data charges for students
In the age of online learning, the Asantehene also pointed out that data charges remain high. He revealed that students would need a lot of data to access the various online classes, and he and work to improve network quality, especially in areas where there are a lot of students, so that they can fully participate in the online learning system.
Asantehene congratulates Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson for the SONSOL Project
His Royal Majesty d the Vice-Chancellor and her Management Team on the launch of the (Support One Needy Student with One Laptop) . He thanked the donors for their generosity in supporting this worthy cause.
KNUST Vice Chancellor Address to the congregation
The Vice-Chancellor,in her address announced that in the world’s search for vaccines and cure for the coronavirus pandemic, the University’s Covid-19 Clinical Trial Team KNC19 has received approval for an herbal preparation, Cryptolepis Sanguinolenta, for a Phase II Clinical Trial on Covid-19 patients. Again, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR) has gained recognition as the second largest laboratory that has so far provided over 128,000 COVID-19 tests for 13 out of 16 regions in Ghana to guide the public health response in Ghana. KCCR also conducts COVID-19 tests for football teams requiring clearance certificates to participate in sports as well as travellers.
KNUST develops lecture theatres to enrole more than 10000 students
Professor (Mrs) Dickson stated that through the constructive efforts of KNUST and its dedicated partners, Obuasi Campus has introduced undergraduate programmes in nursing, midwifery, medical laboratory, and electrical and electronic engineering programmes for the 2020/2021 academic year. Also, the University has been able to develop an additional 6 lecture theatres, extended internet connectivity to parts of the campus for effective online teaching and learning and enrolment has also increased from 343 to over 1000. Considering this, she solicited more support from the Government to continue the expansion of facilities at the Campus to facilitate teaching and learning.
Knust spends Gh¢1,871,877.57 on audio-visual equipment
Regarding ICT Infrastructure, the Vice Chancellor revealed that so far, to enable synchronous and asynchronous learning interactivity. Also, the University, through the Ghanaian Academic and Research Network (GARNET) and the West and Central Africa Research and Education Network (WACREN) have also purchased premium zoom accounts for academic staff to help in teaching and improve user browsing experience and connectivity to the virtual classroom. The University has also increased its bandwidth capacity and continues to work on enhancing our internet services due to the high student numbers, she added. Again, to ensure that academic work can continue even from the homes of faculty members, the University, through its Telecom partners, is facilitating a fibre optic internet connectivity project to provide faster internet connection at a cheaper rate for members of the University community.
Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo wins €1,210,403.00 from EDCTP2 to work on “Paediatric Phase I/II age de-escalation dose…
In terms of grants for various research works, the Vice Chancellor revealed that, the Pro Vice-Chancellor has won One million, two hundred and ten thousand, four hundred and three euros () from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership Association () to -finding study of a vaccine against invasive non-typhoidal salmonella infections in Sub-Saharan Africa (PEDVAC-iNTS)”. Also, Professor Francis Kemausuor of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering has received One hundred and ninety-eight thousand, three hundred and seventy-eight dollars ($198,378.00) from USAID – Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), for study into, “Agri Voltic Technology in Drylands of West Africa: Strengthening National Innovation Systems for Diffusion and Market Development at the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Prof. Sampson Antwi from the Department of Child Health won One hundred and thirty-two thousand, seven hundred and forty-nine dollars ($132,749.00) from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to work on, “Paediatric HIV Disclosure Benefits Study (Ph.D. – BS) – Sankofa 2”.
Closing Message from Knust Vice Chancellor
Professor (Mrs) Dickson expressed much gratitude to Ghana National Gas Company, Japan Motors Trading Company Limited, the North America Chapter of the KNUST Alumni-Association, Anglogold Ashanti, JOSPONG Group, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation for their financial support in diverse ways.
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 Rita Akosua Dickson for the SONSOL Project){kind=link}