The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in partnership with the United States of America (USA) Embassy in Ghana, EducationUSA, and Ace Consult hosted a one-day educational fair to promote study opportunities in the USA. The event, dubbed the EducationUSA College Fair was held at the Great Hall of KNUST on 12th September 2024 and featured over twenty (20) American Public Colleges and Universities as exhibitors.
The fair saw patronage from numerous participants made up of students, parents, and other educational stakeholders. The fair aimed to provide prospective students with information about higher education opportunities in the USA, allowing students to explore various academic programmes and scholarship options available. Again, the event was a platform to foster potential academic partnerships between Ghanaian universities and institutions in the USA as well as presents an opportunity to foster meaningful connections between Ghanaian and American educational stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Professor Esmeranda Manful, the Vice Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO) and representative of the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, extended a warm welcome to all participants. She highlighted the importance of higher education as a catalyst for national development. She continued that it offers immersive and experiential learning opportunities, shapes our thinking, provides insightful exposures, offers opportunities to have life-long alumni connections, and opportunities to grow and be independent personally. She reiterated the KNUST’s excitement in partnering with others to organise the fair and encouraged participants to take advantage and explore available opportunities presented by the exhibiting institutions.
Ms. Emily Fertik, the Public Diplomacy Counsellor at the US Embassy, expressed gratitude to KNUST for hosting the fair once again. She noted that such opportunity is very importance, as it presents a platform for direct interactions between US universities and prospective students and graduates, allowing for deeper connections and help prospective students to make more informed decisions. She also commended the strong and growing bond between the United States and Ghana, attributing much of the contributing factor of the relationship to the exchange of students between the two nations. She added that this bond mostly stems from the ability to study in the United States. She proudly mentioned that in 2023, Ghana accounted for 23% of students admitted to US universities from West Africa and underscored the pivotal role educational exchange plays in the ties between the two countries.
The team from the US Embassy and EducationUSA included; Mrs. Diane Weisz Young, Regional EducationUSA Manager for West and Central Africa; Ms. Laneice Brooker, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the US Embassy; Ms. Marilyn Owusu, Executive Director of Ace Consult and Advisor for EducationUSA; Ms. Bernice Affotey, Advisor for EducationUSA and Education Outreach Specialist; Ms. Margaret Nyarko, Advisor for EducationUSA.
