The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) E-Learning Centre has engaged managers of Olam Cocoa Processing Ghana Limited at Kaase in the Ashanti Region on how digital learning tools can support community training and industry needs.
The Director of the Centre, Prof. Emmanuel Kofi Akowuah, and the Senior Assistant Registrar, Mrs. Abigail Dzama Anderson, led the discussions, which focused on extending digital learning solutions beyond campus.
Professor Akowuah said the Centre is prioritising broader impact.
“We have platforms for self-paced learning, online assessment, and content design. We are asking how these tools can also serve industry and the community,” he said.
He explained that the Centre’s offerings include remote examinations, instructional design services and virtual reality simulations, which could be aligned with the company’s objectives.
Leading the Olam team, Managing Director Ing. Prince Asiedu Acheampong said the company had already invested in education through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
He revealed that Olam had adopted and equipped a community school with an ICT laboratory as part of its CSR, providing modern tools for learning.
He expressed interest in partnering the Centre to support young people and schools within its catchment area.
“We are thinking about how to use models like mobile labs and robotics to support schools. If there is a partner who understands this space, then we can work together,” he said.
Professor Akowuah emphasised the importance of exposure in shaping student interest in science and technology.
“Sometimes students just need to see what is possible. When they come and experience tools like 3D printers or simulation software, it changes how they think,” he said.
He also highlighted the need to bridge the digital skills gap among teachers.
“You may have teachers who are asked to guide robotics or programming, but they lack the confidence because in some cases, the learners are far ahead of them. We can train teachers as well, so learning in the classroom improves,” he said.
The Centre further proposed linking student projects at KNUST to real industry challenges.
Professor Akowuah said this would help upgrade student work to meet industrial standards.
“When it is not just academic grading but a real-world problem, students take it seriously. Presentation skills improve. Teamwork improves,” he said.
