The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in conjunction with the United States (U.S) Embassy in Ghana and the EducationUSA has held a day’s educational fair dubbed the EducationUSA College Fair, at the Great Hall of the University. The event featured thirty American Public Colleges and Universities as exhibitors.
The EducationUSA College fair saw patronage from over six thousand (6,000) participants made up of students, parents, the University Community, and the media. It sought to help students discover study options in the United States of America. Again, the event offered an opportunity for U.S. higher education institutions to find potential academic partnerships in Ghana. In addition, the Fair helped foster meaningful connections for both Ghanaian and American educational stakeholders.
Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo, reading the speech on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, stated that as a leading science and technology university in Africa, KNUST has led the way in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Since its establishment, the University’s successes are in part due to the quality partnerships it has formed over the years across the world. The University is therefore happy to partner with the U. S. Embassy again in such a function.
Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, the Vice-Chancellor, said higher education, considered as the last step on the educational ladder, is critical to the development of any nation. She continued that it offers immersive and experiential learning opportunities, shapes our thinking, provides international exposure, offers opportunities to have life-long alumni connections, and opportunities to personally grow and be independent. The Vice-Chancellor reiterated the University’s excitement in partnering with others to organise the fair and encouraged participants to take advantage and explore available opportunities presented by the exhibiting institutions.
In her remarks, Ms. Laneice Brooker, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy, revealed that last year, EducationUSA advisors from Accra and Kumasi-based centres helped thousands of Ghanaian students apply to institutions in the U.S., securing admissions across hundreds of accredited institutions of higher learning. They also facilitated Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000.00) in financial aid and scholarships.
Ms. Brooker further said Ghana is the second highest sender of students to the United States from Sub-Saharan Africa and ranks eighteenth (18th) in the world. She also stated that according to the 2022 Open Doors Report, Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixteen (4,916) Ghanaians studied at U.S. institutions across all Fifty (50) states during the 2021-22 Academic Year. The Cultural Affairs Officer concluded that Africa represents the future as well as the present and all should find ways to deepen the existing cooperation.
Mrs. Marilyn Owusu, the Chief Executive Officer of the ACE Consult, an educational advisory service provider, was grateful for the huge patronage and commended the schools and students who participated in the Fair. She encouraged all to take advantage of the enormous opportunities the U.S. Embassy and her outfit present.
