A senior lecturer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has joined an international cohort in India for advanced training in packaging automation and artificial intelligence, as the University deepens its engagement with Industry 4.0 skills.

Dr. Kwadwo Boakye Boadu of KNUST’s Department of Wood Science and Technology is among three Ghanaians nominated by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with KNUST, to attend a specialised short course at the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) in New Delhi.

The programme runs from January 18 to 28, 2026, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scheme of India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

The 10-day course brings together participants from 15 countries for hands-on exposure to smart manufacturing at the intersection of automation, robotics and AI.

Training covers automation and robotics for packaging operations, machine learning applications in the packaging industry, AI-driven efficiency and sustainability, testing and certification using AI/ML, agentic AI and small language models for manufacturing and R&D, alongside laboratory demonstrations and industrial visits.

Speaking on the opportunity, Dr. Boadu said the programme “connects classroom learning with factory-floor realities,” adding that it will help KNUST embed Industry 4.0 competencies into packaging curricula, capstone projects and industry partnerships.

Upon his return, Dr. Boadu and colleagues are expected to lead knowledge-transfer activities on campus and with industry, including integrating automation and AI modules into undergraduate and postgraduate courses, supervising AI-assisted quality control and robotics integration projects with local printers, converters and food processors, and offering short courses for industry on computer-vision defect detection, predictive maintenance, and AI-enabled testing and certification.

The effort is also aimed at strengthening collaborations to accelerate sustainable, data-driven packaging solutions for Ghana and the West Africa sub-region.