The Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC)-KNUST in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) has opened this year’s Summer School for 2011 at the KNUST Engineering Guest House, Kumasi.
The event which has been scheduled to last for four weeks, draws participants from diverse cultures in the areas of socio-economic development.
The Director of TCC, Dr. G.Y. Obeng in his opening statement, touched on the benefits of the exchange programme and its relevance to international development through collaboration with sister institutions. He added that the focus of the event will be on experimental learning, research and tourism within the scope of education, healthcare, enterprise development, and microfinance, history and culture, water and sanitation and drumming and dancing. He also encouraged the students to seize the opportunity to promote teamwork in order to develop career opportunities for themselves.
The Provost of the College of Engineering, Professor S.I.K Ampadu, in his speech, expressed his delight that KNUST was hosting the International Development Summer Institute (IDSI) for the second time since its inception. He emphasised on some of the benefits previous participants have enjoyed through the collaborative efforts of the TCC of the College of Engineering and some Non governmental Organisations (NGOs). He said a total of 21 students will be benefiting from this year’s summer school programme, and assured them that they will gain a lot, including insight into international development.
Professor Ampadu called for the strengthening of collaboration among both Universities to help create a global network of institutions, ready to tackle some of the challenges confronting humanity, especially those in the developing world.
The Provost also said UPENN and KNUST have rich history. KNUST being one of the best Science and Technology Universities in Africa, which has for almost 40 years through TCC, been spearheading efforts at developing expertise and technology to meet the developmental challenges in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
Professor John D. Keenan, leader of the delegates from UPENN, acknowledged KNUST for its warm reception and hinted that this year’s exchange programme would certainly serve as a career development platform for the youth.
