The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi and the Kingdom of Denmark are exploring deeper collaboration on clean water distribution and climate action, following a visit by Denmark’s Ambassador, Jakob Linulf, to the university.
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, hosted the ambassador on his first official trip to Kumasi since taking office in August.
The visit focused on exploring sustainability partnerships between the university and the Danish Embassy.
Mr. Linulf said he was keen to share Danish expertise on clean water distribution and climate-change solutions to drive sustainability.
“We work a lot on distributing clean water, cleaning, treatment and anything related to water and a lot related to climate change. We are very committed to trying to share that knowledge,” he said.
“We want to work with you and your government in providing a sustainable environment. We look forward to exploring future collaborations, including student exchange programs and energy partnerships.”
Professor Dickson reiterated KNUST’s commitment to making sustainability a top priority and said the university would evaluate possible directions for collaboration.
“For us as a university, we are excited that over the years in terms of partnership, when it comes to scholarships, research, we’ve not been doing too badly but I’ve always said there is always one room that is never full which is the room for improvement,” she said.
She also signalled the university’s interest in discussing embassy support for clean-energy funding to help position KNUST as a leader in sustainable development.
“Because we feel that, in terms of the climate change space and also all the issues with regards to sustainability, we want to be seen as a leading university and we continue to work on that,” she said. “We are investing internally generated funds to power parts of our campus with solar energy, reflecting our commitment to the global sustainability drive.”
The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the ambassador to support KNUST’s clean-energy drive and stressed the need for partnerships to achieve lasting impact.
“Let us work with you, to be more solution focused for our students and also to impact the communities that surround the university. We need partners and collaborators like your country, your embassy so that we will be able to sustain and make more impact,” she added.
Professor Dickson encouraged exploring links with Danish universities and said KNUST was open to scholarship opportunities and international collaboration.
“We are an international university and we open our arms to bring strategic partners in,” she said. “We want you to look at that very keenly. Any scholarships that are available, count the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in.”
