Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) has secured a US$45,864 grant to strengthen artificial intelligence education, research and innovation under the Africa AI Upskilling Programme.

The University is among selected higher education institutions in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa participating in the continental programme, which seeks to build a sustainable and scalable ecosystem for advanced AI education in Africa.

The programme is implemented by FATE Foundation in partnership with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), with support from Google.org.

Under the initiative, participating universities will gain access to the Google DeepMind AI Research Foundations Curriculum, alongside technical, academic and institutional support to strengthen AI teaching and applied research.

KNUST will use its US$45,864 subgrant to support the implementation of the programme and build institutional capacity for AI education.

Prof. Eric Appau Asante, Project Lead and Primary Programme Contact Person for KNUST, will coordinate the University's participation.

He will work with University Management, participating academic units, multidisciplinary AI Champions, Teaching Assistants and programme partners to implement the project and support its long-term sustainability.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the University's capacity to train students and researchers in emerging AI technologies while creating opportunities for multidisciplinary teaching, research and innovation.

KNUST Management said the programme aligns with the University's strategic focus on innovation, digital transformation and globally relevant education.

The University will provide the facilities, academic support and institutional environment required for the programme and explore ways of integrating lessons and outcomes from the initiative into its wider academic and innovation ecosystem.