The College of Health Sciences (CHS) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, welcomed its freshmen for the 2023/2024 Academic Year with an orientation on 9th January 2024 in two sessions at the Great Hall of the University. The orientation aimed to equip students with the necessary information to help them have a smooth journey in their academic and social life on campus.
In his welcome address, Professor Christian Agyare, the Provost of CHS, congratulated the freshmen for their admission and welcomed them to KNUST. He highlighted the importance of the orientation and gave a breakdown of the schools, faculties, and departments in the College. He shed light on some key initiatives within the College like mentorship, entrepreneurship, among others. He encouraged the freshmen to manage their time effectively, comport themselves, and build a robust social life for themselves.
The Chief Executive Officer of Lead-It Africa and alumnus of KNUST, Dr. Herman Addae, delivered a keynote address on “The 360 Scholar: Am I in the Right Programme”. He reassured the freshmen that they were indeed in the right programme and urged them not to lose focus but rather to think of ways to achieve higher goals. He emphasised that first degree does not limit you but rather it opens doors to infinite opportunities. He mentioned that employers look out for soft skills such as an individual’s ability to work under pressure, teamwork, leadership, confidence, oral communication, perseverance, etc. “In today’s corporate world, one needs to possess IT skills specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to excel,” he stressed. He advised students to engage in extracurricular activities, build networks, and adopt the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Results) method in their academic and professional pursuits.
Dr. James Oppong-Kyekyeku, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, presented on “University Assessment and Examination (Grading System)”. He discussed essential topics such as registration procedures, the grading system, and the functionalities of the AIM app with the freshmen. Dr. Oppong-Kyekyeku also outlined the examination regulations to ensure that the new students were well informed and prepared for their academic assessments.
Ms. Lucy Diawuo Esq, the College Registrar, took the freshmen through the “University Rules and Regulations (Discipline and Misconduct)”. She addressed some disciplinary issues and sanctions meted out to students who go against the University’s rules. She further stated some of guidelines to help students navigate and experience the University positively.
The Senior Assistant Librarian, Mr. Michael Sakyi Boateng, elaborated on “How to Optimise the Use of the College/Faculty Libraries”. He assured the students that the library has many books and resources available to aid them in their academic and urged them to visit the library frequently.
Mr. Emmanuel Amankwah and Dr. Charles Nsiah also took the freshmen through “Maintenance of University Facilities and Environmental Cleanliness at the College; the Roles of Students” and “University Accounting System Affecting Students and Financial Management Practice for Students” respectively.
