The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, has received the maiden Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) Meritorious Award in recognition of her leadership and contributions to higher education in Ghana.

Receiving the award at the opening of the 3rd Annual GTEC Summer School at KNUST, Prof. Dickson thanked GTEC for the honour and dedicated it to the entire KNUST community.

She described the award as a testament to the collective efforts of the University's management, faculty, staff and students in advancing excellence in teaching, research, innovation and institutional development.

Prof. Dickson underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and collaboration between GTEC and higher education institutions, saying many of the sector's challenges could be resolved through timely communication and mutual understanding.

"Director General, we want to hear from you more. We believe there is no problem that cannot be solved if we are willing to talk and listen to one another," she said.

The Vice-Chancellor encouraged GTEC to deepen direct engagement with universities through regular consultations and informal communication, saying many issues could be resolved through discussion before formal correspondence becomes necessary.

"Some of these conversations can be just a call away before GTEC sends out those letters. Let us continue to dialogue. We will also continue to provide that space to ensure that what we do in upholding the standard of the quality of our teaching and training of professionals is top-notch," Prof. Dickson said.

She reaffirmed KNUST's commitment to working closely with the Commission to strengthen quality assurance and improve higher education delivery, assuring GTEC of the University's continued support in developing practical solutions to challenges facing the sector.

"As higher education institutions, we will continue to provide all the needed support and make our students' tertiary education experience across all our campuses as comfortable as we practically can," she said.

Prof. Dickson also thanked the Director-General and the leadership of GTEC for the recognition and reaffirmed KNUST's readiness to continue collaborating with the Commission to shape the future of higher education in Ghana.

The Director-General of GTEC, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, said the Commission instituted the Meritorious Awards to recognise individuals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience and excellence in higher education.

He said that while public discourse often focuses on the challenges facing tertiary institutions, it is equally important to celebrate individuals and institutions whose contributions continue to strengthen Ghana's higher education sector.