KNUST 9th summer school opens
The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, has said it was time for academia to create constructive partnerships with other institutions of higher learnings to implement the use of science, research and innovations to drive and achieve the various SDGs.
She said to achieve this required an enhanced capacity, knowledge and understanding of how things work.
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The Vice-Chancellor was addressing the opening of the KNUST 9th summer school in Kumasi where about 1,000 participants from the university's various colleges, units and some partners of the university are attending.
It is on the theme: "SDGs and Universities: Actions towards KNUST’s mandate at 70 and beyond."
The four-day programme which ends on Friday is expected to tackle a number of national issues and make recommendations for national development.
Prof. (Mrs) Dickson expressed the hope that the Summer School will assist participants to acquire new knowledge to upgrade performance at their various workplaces.
The school
The summer school brings together staff of the university and their affiliate institutions and partners to enhance their knowledge in implementing the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the quality of work and promote higher quality education in Ghana.
This year’s Summer School which is being decentralised into various colleges and units is as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The university has made provision to hybrid the summer school where participants can join online or in-person for the various sessions due to COVID 19.
It also coincides with KNUST's 70th anniversary celebration which runs till the end of the year.
The Chief Executive Director of Clean - Africa e.V, a German NGO, Mrs Mathilda Freda Marful, one of the collaborators said networking was key in achieving the SDGs.
She said Clean – Africa e.V has received over 6,000 members globally from academicians from various cultural backgrounds in collaboration with other actors.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Intelligence Nature International, an NGO and one of the sponsors of the school, Dr. William Bannerman said the activities of humans have imapcted on planet earth negatively, and it was the responsibility of all to protect it thus, destabilising the systems which rely on it for survival.
He said per the United Nations report index, there was a decline in the 2020 SDG’S performance by 20,000 due to increased poverty rates and unemployment following the outbreak of the COVID -19 Pandemic.
"It means there is the need to cease the opportunity and create businesses knowledge and innovation which KNUST is a leader in that aspect," Mr Bannerman said.
Joining the programme virtually, the Member of Parliament for the Suame Constituency and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, called for a collaboration between the university and artisans in creating sustainable jobs for the youth.