The Training Phase of the PartnerAfrika – Projekt KNUST 2022 Summer Internship Programme commenced on 10th August 2022, with one hundred and twenty (120) students participating.
The Partner Afrika-Projekt is within the framework of the Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation between Unternehmer Baden-Württemberg (UBW), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The project aims to enable KNUST, AGI and local partners to offer innovative services to their members (with a focus on sustainable production and digitalisation), creating jobs and income in the industrial sector, particularly with SMEs and bridging the gap between industry and academia.
On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo officially launched the PartnerAfrika – Projekt KNUST and the 2022 Summer Internship Programme. He said it is evident that internships are an excellent way to learn what is being applied today and a good measure of the relevant shifts going to be experienced in the soon-to-come future. "As a university, we will put in place the necessary measures to make teaching and learning of engineering a memorable and pleasurable activity," he intimated. He admonished participants to approach the training programme with all the seriousness it deserves. "I have full confidence in all of you and look forward to seeing the change you implement in the industry," he added.
In his address, the provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah, congratulated the 120 shortlisted students and said their applications resonated with the project's mandate. "Environmental Sustainability is at the core of the industry, and many organisations in Ghana are finding new ways of engineering solutions that are eco-friendly and non-hazardous; your input is needed to make this happen," he mentioned.
"I admonish you to take this journey seriously and submit yourselves to being coached by the officers you will meet in the field. The training team is experienced in the topics going to be discussed, and I encourage you to ask a lot of questions," he said.
In his inaugural lecture, the Principal Investigator, Prof. Jerry John Kponyo, said that since June 2021, the PartnerAfrika-Projekt KNUST project team had taken significant steps with the project partners; Arqum and AGI, to ensure Economic Sustainability in the Ghanaian Industry. He said today marks an essential milestone in the team's delivery.
"The internship application phase saw over 400 applications, of which all students present were selected. In the next four weeks, shortlisted students will be taken through a preparatory program to prepare them for their internships," he stated.
He said he is optimistic that by the end of the three-year project, these students' career paths would have had a significant impact while introducing new and improved methods to the companies who opt to participate.
Regional Chairman of AGI, Ashanti, Bono East, and Ahafo regions, Mr. Kwasi Nyamekye, was hopeful the collaboration would carve a succession plan for the industries. He said his outfit would collaborate fully with the university to ensure that students get the proper training and become fit for the initiatives immediately after graduation.
