The Provost of the College of Engineering and the KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP), scheduled a meeting with Alumni (of the College of Engineering) in Worcester, North America for 21st October 2023. The meeting was an intimate one and its purpose was to provide an update on activities going on within the College with the aim of encouraging more Alumni to come on board the vision train.
The meeting began with a prayer and introductions. The lively introductions revealed Alumni not only from CoE but also from other fields of learning at KNUST. Also, present were associate College of Engineering Alumni who schooled outside Ghana. The College of Engineering Alumni association is open to any graduate who wants to join, so long as they support the vision of the College. Register onto the database via https://forms.gle/xnPsNCJXDC28s7kU8.
In an address by the chair of the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) – Prof. Johnson Asumadu, he noted that Alumni are a part of the University and among the many things they do, they also:
- employ students
- make contributions to College
- organize activities surrounding Alumni-related events
He spoke about the quality of KNUST students as a result of the education provided. Prof. Johnson Asumadu said that KNUST students prove themselves when they find themselves schooling in the United States and are therefore in high demand.
He raised the issue of patents with Alumni and noted that they are an important issue being worked on because they protect intellectual property. He pointed that not only do patents put the College of Engineering on the map in terms of recognition, but also proves KNUST, CoE’s progress to the world.
He also mentioned that KEEP has constantly remained the highest performing African Centre of Excellence (ACE) among the 53 other ACEs since its inception; and that discussions with the Project Lead of KEEP (Prof. J. J. Kponyo) have ensued about “Excellence Leadership Awards” that will be open to include Alumni in diaspora.
In the Provost’s presentation delivered by the Project Lead of KEEP (Prof. John Kponyo), Alumni were updated on a number of issues:
- The increased number of students that translate
- into increased numbers of intellectual ideas.
- The existence of research centers and the African Centers of Excellence
- Accreditation of courses not only locally but internationally also.
- The creation of thematic laboratories and the sources of funding for these laboratories
- The expansion of the Innovation Center that nurtures and grows innovations into startups.
- Industry and Community engagement.
Special mention must be made of dedicated Alumni who despite their busy schedules availed themselves to help with the organization of this meeting and the next to happen on Thursday the 26th of October 2023. The College of Engineering is grateful to Robert K. Kumapley PE, John Addo PE, Leslie Mills PE, Paa Kwasi Adjebeng PE, and Dr. Joseph Eshun.
