The management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has received British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye during a courtesy visit ahead of his public lecture at the university.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Asamoah, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, described the visit as an important milestone in KNUST’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry.
“This engagement aligns with the university’s vision of creating stronger partnerships that equip students with practical industry experience and global perspectives,” he said.
The Provost of the College of Art and Built Environment, Professor Christian Koranteng, said the university was committed to becoming a “living laboratory” where students could directly interact with professionals and industry leaders.
“As part of the university’s strategic plan, we need to ensure that we are working closely with industry, we are teaming up and training our students,” he said.
Professor Daniel Yaw Duah, Head of the Department of Architecture, highlighted the department’s emphasis on climate, culture and construction as core pillars of its teaching philosophy, stressing the importance of African-centred architectural thinking.
“The theme or the ethos of the department focuses on the three C’s, and within that, the African identity is very important to us,” he said.
Sir David Adjaye, founder of Adjaye Associates, praised the university’s vision and acknowledged KNUST’s contribution to architectural practice in Ghana and beyond.
“The ethos of this university aligns with my own aims and goals,” he said. “We actually employ many graduates from this institution, and we have become deep beneficiaries of what this institution is developing, so it's natural for us to want to deepen our relationship as we work not just in Ghana but globally.”
He added that the Accra office of Adjaye Associates was established partly to deepen its connection with KNUST, strengthen collaboration on the African continent and help prepare the next generation of architects for global opportunities.
KNUST management commended Sir David Adjaye for his global accomplishments and for elevating Ghanaian excellence on the international stage. They expressed confidence that the relationship between KNUST and Adjaye Associates would contribute significantly to the growth of the Department of Architecture and the professional development of students.
