The United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ghana, Baroness Kate Hoey, as part of her working visit to Ghana has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson. The Vice-Chancellor together with some members of the University Management received her at the Council Chamber on Wednesday, 25th February, 2022.
Baroness Hoey in her remarks congratulated the Vice Chancellor for being the first female Vice-Chancellor of KNUST. ‘It is quite significant having a woman Vice-Chancellor who would push and inspire more women. There aren’t many in UK; I could count just three’, she said.
Following her appointment six months ago, she revealed that the visit to KNUST forms part of her first working visit to the Ashanti Region. She recounted her previous experience with KNUST in 1972 when she participated in the Commonwealth Students’ Conference. She praised the University for how it has evolved for the past years, with its successes chalked.
‘The University has a great history and a wonderful name. I really want to explore more ways of cooperation in terms of education, other available opportunities, revive and strengthen existing ones.’
The Country Director of the Department of International Trade in Ghana, Miss Lindsay Gilbert Crouch stated that the UK and Ghana has a strong history and is keen on continuing to build on that. She, however, expressed her concern of the few women on the several scholarship programmes, such as the Chevening scholarship. She then proposed to discuss ways to increase female enrolment on the various scholarship opportunities in the UK.
As a beneficiary of UK Scholarships, the Vice-Chancellor appreciated the UK government for the opportunities. She reassured the delegation of KNUST’s commitment to work assiduously to improve the existing collaborations and forge new ones.
On the issue of global unemployment, Professor (Mrs.) Dickson outlined some initiatives the University has taken to help resolve such trend, which include creating more avenues for hands-on-training for students to acquire entrepreneurial skills. She called on them to offer internships for students to have more industrial exposure in the UK.
The Vice-Chancellor addressed how the University has been able to increase female enrolment in KNUST; admitting more females from less-endowed schools in Ghana and partnering with Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to ensure the award of comprehensive scholarships to 1,050 young females between 2020 and 2029.
The Registrar, Mr. Andrews Kwasi Boateng entreated the delegation to provide staff training opportunities to equip staff with necessary skills to ensure the smooth running of the University.