The College of Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is set to collaborate with Asante Gold Corporation on research, training, and capacity building in the mining sector.
The partnership also aims to engage alumni of the College to give back to society by contributing their expertise to the next generation of engineers.
The Director of the Brew Hammond Energy Centre, Professor David Ato Quansah, noted that Mr. Samuel K. Takyi, General Manager of Asante Gold Corporation, has always been closely connected to the College and is now returning to give back.
Mr. Samuel K. Takyi, General Manager of Asante Gold Corporation expressed excitement to contribute to his alma mater, highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry. He explained that while industry players possess the problems and data, academia provides the tools and human resources to create innovative solutions.
Mr. Takyi suggested a flexible curriculum be developed for master’s programmes in Metallurgical, Materials, and Geological Engineering to accommodate industry professionals, noting that such an initiative would attract many participants.
“If there can be something carved for industry, a flexible time in the mining industry, a lot of industry will apply, so that bridge between academia and industry can be strengthened,” he said.
The Provost of the College of Engineering, Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, welcomed the partnership, describing it as an important step toward aligning academic research with real industry challenges. He indicated that a team from the College would soon visit the mines to explore areas of mutual interest and called for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to solidify the relationship.
“We can do a tailor-made one, and as we are doing that, we develop the research areas,” the Provost remarked.
He also encouraged alumni in the mining sector to return and share their knowledge with students, stressing the need to empower them to develop their own projects and prototypes that both academia and industry can support.
“We have the brains and the students; they are ready and doing well. What they need is the push to the next level,” he said.
Also present at the meeting were Professor Kwaku Amaning Adjei, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geomatic Engineering; Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo, Associate Professor of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering; and Professor Emmanuel Kwame Appiah-Adjei, Professor of Geological Engineering.
