History Of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology , KNUST

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is the foremost Science and Technology University in the country. It has, within the period of its existence, become an important centre for the training of scientists and technologists not only for Ghana but also for African and other countries.

The university campus, which is about seven square miles in area, lies to the east of Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.

There are six (6) halls of residence and fourteen (14) hostels on campus. The halls are ;

• Queen Elizabeth II Hall
• Independence,
• Republic Hall
• Unity Hall
• University Hall
• Africa Hall

Of the fourteen hostels, seven belong to the University or associations/unions of the University. Some of these are SRC Hostel, Credit Union Hostel, GRASAG Hostel, GUSSS (Brunei), and the Chancellor’s Hostel (Hall 7), etc. The University also has a number of municipal facilities. These include a Hospital, Basic Schools (i.e. Nursery, Primary, and Junior High School), Maintenance Department, Estate Organisation, Transport Department, Photocopy Unit, Printing Press, a Bookshop, a Shopping Mall, Staff Clubs/ Canteen, Sports Stadium (Paa Joe), Gymnasium, an Olympic size Swimming Pool, Commercial and Banking facilities, Post Office, Places of worship and Guest Houses (in Accra and on-campus).

VISION

The vision for the establishment of Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology is to build on KNUST’s leadership as the premier science and technology university in Ghana and to be among the top ten Universities in Africa.

MISSION

KNUST exists to advance knowledge in science and technology through creating an environment for undertaking relevant research, quality teaching, entrepreneurship training and community engagement to improve the quality of life.

Core Values

1. Leadership in Innovation and Technology
2. Culture of Excellence
3. Diversity and Equal Opportunity for All
4. Integrity and Stewardship of Resources

How Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Was Established

By a Government Ordinance of October 6, 1951, the Kumasi College of Technology was established as a public University with the Faculty of Engineering and affiliated to the University of London. It began operations on January 22, 1952, with 200 teacher training students who were relocated from Achimota College to form the nucleus of the Kumasi College of Technology.

The College expanded enormously in academic disciplines and infrastructure in the years that followed. In addition to the Faculty of Engineering, the Departments of Pharmacy and Agriculture were established in 1953, followed by the Departments of General Studies, Town Planning & Building, and the Faculty of Science.
As the College developed, it was decided that its Science and Technology status be maintained. To this end, the Teacher Training Section, excluding the Art School, was transferred to the Winneba Training College and the Commerce Department to Achimota, in January 1958.

In 1961, the Kumasi College of Technology was granted full-fledged university status based on the report of a commission appointed by the government to advise it on the status of the College. Consequently, the Kumasi College of Technology was converted into an autonomous University by an Act of Parliament on August 22, 1961 and named, The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology was formally inaugurated
on Wednesday, November 29, 1961. The University began awarding its own degrees in June, 1964.

After the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the name of the University was changed to the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi on February 24, 1966 by a decree. By an Act of Parliament, 1998,Act 555, the name of the University, reverted to its original name as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The University has expanded enormously and undergone major changes, especially in its academic structure since 1965.

Colleges In KNUST

In January 2005, the University adopted the collegiate system to allow for greater academic and administrative autonomy. Under this system, the various Faculties were condensed into six Colleges, namely;

1. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources(CANR)
2. College of Architecture and Planning (CAP)
3. College of Art and Social Sciences (CASS)
4. College of Engineering (CoE)
5. College of Health Sciences (CHS)
6. College of Science (CoS)

At the beginning of the 2015/2016 academic year, the Colleges were restructured by the merger of the Faculty of Art with the College of Architecture and Planning resulting in the new College of Art and Built Environment, the Colleges of the University now stand as:

1. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources(CANR)
2. College of Art and Built Environment (CABE)
3. College of Engineering (CoE)
4. College of Health Sciences (CHS)
5. College of Humanities and Social Sciences(CoHSS)
6. College of Science (CoS )

KNUST Institute of Distance Learning (IDL)

The Institute of Distance Learning (IDL) initially established in 2005 under the Faculty of Science with two learning centres in Accra and Kumasi has now been elevated to the status of a College with the appointment of a Director to oversee its operations. It now has learning centres in all ten regions of Ghana and aims at bringing the quality and demand-driven tertiary education offered by KNUST to the doorstep of all, especially, the working class.

KNUST Obuasi Campus

In the 2019/2020 academic year, the University established a satellite campus in Obuasi with selected programmes in Engineering, Environmental Science and Supply Chain Management and has now expanded it operation in 2021/22 academic year.

Conclusion

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is currently a household name in science and technology education in Africa. The evergreen landscape and the ambiance of the institution, highly qualified academic and administrative/support staff, attractive postgraduate programmes among others make it a first-choice tertiary institution in Africa.