The annual summer school at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, serves as a platform for the university community to address contemporary issues within its core mission and develop effective strategies for student training. Commencing in 2011 with 250 senior members, the program has now expanded to encompass the entire university community, experiencing significant growth over the years.
The recently concluded 10th KNUST summer school, themed "Academia-Industry Partnership for National Development," saw a decentralized approach, with each college hosting discussions on the sub-theme "From classroom to workplace: Developing industry-ready graduates through effective partnerships" following the opening ceremony. Emphasizing the benefits of fostering a symbiotic relationship between academia and industry, this year's program sought input from industry experts to revamp the university's curriculum and teaching methodologies.
At the college level, the discussions centered on curriculum delivery methods, recommended instructional strategies, potential innovations in training approaches, and collaborative efforts between academia and industry. The outcomes were promising, highlighting opportunities for bridging the skills gap, promoting research and innovation, refining the curriculum, and fostering lifelong learning, internships, employment, and overall economic development through strengthened academia-industry collaborations.
The speakers for the day were Ing. Kwabena Bempong, President of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, and Professor Eric Appau Asante, Director of the E-learning Centre, KNUST.
