The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) E-Learning Centre will run a four-day digital teaching programme in January 2026 for selected lecturers from all colleges to strengthen online and technology-supported instruction ahead of the new academic year.
The decision was reached at a meeting between the E-Learning Centre and the university’s Instructional Design Unit.
Under the revised approach, ten lecturers will be selected from each college. This marks a shift from earlier large-scale training programmes that covered hundreds of staff.
Director of the E-Learning Centre, Prof. Emmanuel Akowuah, said the focus on smaller cohorts is intended to ensure immediate application of skills.
“We need a model that allows us to build capacity steadily. If we try to rewrite every course ourselves, the system will slow down. The better approach is to train people who already have the content and guide them to design for online use,” he said.
Members of the Instructional Design Unit, Prof. Nana Ewusi Mensah, Dr. Prince Edem Dzakpasu and Dr. Linda Amoako-Banning, said previous training cohorts supported under other initiatives had produced skilled lecturers, but many had limited opportunities to apply the skills acquired.
Instructional design support staff, including Samuel Selorm Anane Avotri and Nana Adwoa Kwabea Baidoo, also attended the meeting.
Dr. Dzakpasu said sustained engagement was critical to translating training into teaching practice.
“We trained lecturers in past cohorts, but many have not been engaged consistently. We need an approach that keeps trained faculty active so the skills translate into teaching practice,” he said.
The four-day programme will cover instructional design principles, redesigning content for online delivery, digital teaching tools, assessment for online learning and basic media production processes. Participants are expected to bring existing course materials for redesign during the sessions.
Prof. Akowuah said the smaller structure would allow for closer supervision and mentoring.
“We want to work with those who are ready to redesign their courses. When we develop this first group, they can also support their colleagues in the colleges,” he said.
Staff of the E-Learning Centre’s production, studio and support units will also participate to strengthen internal technical capacity.
According to Prof. Akowuah, the aim is to establish a frontline team capable of resolving basic instructional and technical issues before escalating more complex challenges to instructional designers.
The training will include guided practical sessions, peer review of redesigned materials and hands-on demonstrations of the university’s online learning systems.
Colleges are expected to submit their nominees ahead of the start date.
Prof. Akowuah said the collaboration signals a more coordinated approach to technology-supported teaching.
“We want to ensure the lecturers responsible for online delivery are properly equipped. When the colleges send the right people, the impact will be immediate,” he said.
The revised training plan forms part of broader efforts to strengthen online learning as KNUST expands digital delivery across its academic programmes. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for next week to finalise the list of participants and prepare for the January start.
