The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, has welcomed a delegation of 20 German university presidents to the university to explore opportunities for academic collaboration and strengthen existing partnerships.

The visit, which forms part of a broader engagement between Ghana and German higher education institutions, was facilitated through the efforts of KNUST’s International Programmes Office (IPO) in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The Dean of the International Programmes Office, Professor Edmund Ekuadzi, mentioned that the visit was the result of months of coordination following earlier engagements with German stakeholders.

“It’s the DAAD that managed to get this going. And then from last November, when they visited with the German president, they hinted that there would be a visit of presidents from 20 universities. And so we’ve been working closely with DAAD to get this done,” he said.

He explained that the visit brings together institutions seeking both to deepen existing collaborations and to initiate new partnerships with KNUST.

“So essentially, we have presidents of higher education institutions who are looking to strengthen, those that have ties already with KNUST, are looking to strengthen those ties and even extend them beyond the areas they are working in already. And then there are institutions that do not have ties with us but are looking to start those conversations,” he added.

The Secretary General of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Dr. Kai Sicks, said the visit forms part of an annual initiative that brings together leaders of German universities to engage with partner institutions around the world.

“The general idea behind the trip is that every year, we have a journey of 20 senior leadership of German universities go to one country worldwide and travel this country for one week and visit universities and see whether we can build on what we already have and go the next step and try to instigate new collaborations,” he said.

He noted that Ghana was selected for this year’s visit due to its growing academic landscape and strategic importance.

“And last year, we thought, now is the time to go to Africa and to Ghana in particular. We have a new office as DAAD in Ghana. We see the dynamic development of the academic landscape. I think there’s so many fields in which our interests converge and we can come together even more than in the past. We also need friends who deliver a stable environment for collaboration,” he added.

Welcoming the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor described the visit as a landmark moment for the university.

“This meeting is historic. Honestly, I don’t remember when we’ve been able to have leadership of 20 at the same time, so this is very historic for us, and we will never forget this interaction ever in our life,” she said.

She encouraged open engagement and knowledge sharing during the visit.

“But of course, let’s look at this meeting and all the meetings that you have here as a medium of posing our ideas and sharing our success stories, and also giving our unsuccessful stories as well,” she noted.

Emphasising KNUST’s global outlook, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted that the university trains students to operate beyond national and continental boundaries, making international collaboration essential.

“We train for the world. And if you are training for the world, then you need to train the students with the people in the world. So that’s how we’re seeing the collaboration and friendship and partnerships that we share with all our friends. And as a result of that, we don’t joke with our partnerships at all,” she stated.

During the visit, three German universities ,the University of Leipzig, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and the University of Ulm signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with KNUST to formalise areas of cooperation.

The Vice-Chancellor urged the partner institutions to remain committed to the agreements.

“When we sign the MOU, we are all committed to it and we must make sure we will do what we have said we will do,” she said.

She further assured the delegation of KNUST’s openness to sustained collaboration.

“As for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, you are always welcome and we want you to always remember that KNUST can be your second university, Ghana your second country, KNUST your second home, anytime,” she concluded.