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Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG to collaborate with the KNUST College of Engineering

Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG to collaborate with the KNUST College of Engineering

Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG to collaborate with the KNUST College of Engineering

 

Ralf Hoppe, Executive Vice President, Global Projects, Weidmüller Interface GmbH and Co. KG, Germany, and Dr. Etienne Nitidem, President of Dr. Nitidem Consulting, Engineering and Production Technologies in Germany paid a courtesy call on the Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko and had discussions on future collaborations with the KNUST College of Engineering through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The German companies visited Ghana for a pre-feasibility study as they are considering setting up a company in Ghana.  Present at the meeting were: Prof. Emmanuel Frimpong, Head of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Prof. Prince Yaw Andoh, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. Anthony Adjei Agyeman, Senior Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering Department, and Transport Engineer, and Prof. Richard Buamah, Coordinating Dean for the KNUST Obuasi Campus. 

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German and KNUST teams had discussions at the meeting.

 

Ralf Hoppe stated that Weidmüller Interface GmbH and Co. KG, the best company in the world intends to collaborate with KNUST; the best university in Africa in terms of Quality Education according to the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking to recruit quality and skilled engineers to work in his company. He said his outfit supports customers and partners around the world with products, solutions, and services in the industrial environment of power, signals, and data. “We are leaders in the production of terminal blocks, plug-in connectors, enclose systems and components, service interfaces, and distribution boxes. We also deal in electronics, automation and software, workplace accessories, and assembly services,” he revealed.

“Our visit to the KNUST College of Engineering is to learn more about the engineering programmes and the quality of engineers produced. We also want to have an idea of the culture and ethics portrayed here to determine whether the views and mindsets of engineers here fit with ours,” he intimated.

Dr. Etienne Nitidem indicated that his consulting company manages companies around the world in production. He said he has set up companies in America, Germany, China, and India. “It is time to come back to Africa to help companies here as well. We work very closely with Weidmüller Interface GmbH and Co. KG and we are here for successful future collaboration,” he added.

Prof. Kwabena Biritiwum Nyarko, Provost, College of Engineering welcomed the German team and said the College of Engineering (COE) started in 1951 with three programs and has grown over the years to produce engineers (undergraduates and postgraduates) in the following areas:

Aerospace, Automobile, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Geological, Geomatic, Industrial, Marine, Materials, Mechanical, Metallurgical, Petroleum, Petrochemical, and Telecommunications Engineering. The College of Engineering produces over 2,000 engineering graduates annually and can support the operations of Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG in Ghana and beyond. “The College is also ready to collaborate with Weidmüller Interface GmbH & Co. KG in engineering training and research for mutual benefit,” he assured

Prof. Richard Buamah said as the German companies focus on establishing a company in Ghana, the focus of KNUST is to train students with hands-on skills. He said the future collaboration with the German companies to be established in Ghana will give opportunity and exposure to students, they will garner employability skills and fit into the job and entrepreneurial market.

Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, in his closing remarks, thanked the German team for choosing KNUST and for visiting the College of Engineering. He reiterated that the drafting of an MoU will be worked on to help both sides get to know more about each other and that will pave way for further next steps.