The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Prof. David Asamoah, has welcomed a delegation from the Embassy of Spain to Ghana to explore opportunities for deeper academic collaboration and commemorate International Women’s Day.
Prof. Edmund Ekuadzi, Dean of the International Programmes Office (IPO), said the engagement followed discussions between the university and the Embassy over the past few weeks and coincided with celebrations marking the international observance.
He explained that the Embassy had expressed interest in organising an activity at the university and that the visit was intended to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions.
Prof. Asamoah welcomed the initiative and noted that the timing of the engagement was appropriate.
He said there were several areas through which KNUST and Spanish institutions could collaborate, including student and faculty exchange programmes as well as joint research initiatives.
According to him, the two sides could also work together to develop collaborative research proposals that would enable scholars from both countries to address shared research interests.
“The doors of KNUST are open for any project that will be fruitful for both nations,” he said.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Spanish Embassy in Ghana, Isabel Ibarra, said the Embassy was keen to strengthen its engagement with KNUST, describing the university as a leading reference in science and technology in the region.
“We have not really been doing many projects or activities with KNUST before from the Embassy, and this is something that I intend to change,” she said. “I recognise your strength and your weight in the region and in the whole continent as a reference in science and technology. We are very excited to do more activities with you, and this is just a starting point of our projects.”
She highlighted several academic opportunities available to Ghanaian students and researchers in Spain.
Ibarra also reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to strengthening Spanish language education in Ghanaian universities to support academic and cultural relations. She noted that Spanish lectorates are currently hosted at KNUST and the University of Ghana.
“We really treasure these lectorates. We want them to feel at home and to be included in the system as much as possible so that they can share a good experience and ensure continuity of Spanish language representation in different universities,” she said.
According to her, Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and provides access to opportunities across Latin America, the United States and other parts of the world.
She also announced that the Embassy will organise a teacher training mission for Spanish language teachers aimed at improving certification and strengthening Spanish language instruction.
By: Abigail Ofori
