A delegation from the Hochschule Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences paid a courtesy call on the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Thursday, 6th February 2025, at the University’s Council Chamber.
Since 2014, the International Programmes Office (IPO) at KNUST has fostered a robust collaboration with Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da). This partnership has facilitated numerous student exchanges and collaborative research projects, enriching the academic experiences of Staff and Students from both institutions.
The Vice-Dean of the IPO at KNUST, Professor Esmeranda Manful, emphasized the longstanding nature of this collaboration.
"We’ve had this collaboration since 2014, and the collaborations spans numerous student exchanges, as well as execution of various research projects,” she said.
Professor Manful further highlighted the IPO's initiative to expand the partnership to other departments, underscoring the commitment to enhancing academic ties.
Annabelle Bijelić, Head of the International Office at h_da, expressed her gratitude for the programmes, saying, "We want to first thank the IPO team for this programme; it's exactly what we were expecting. In fact our expectation has been exceeded. So far, we’ve realized there is a lot of promising development going on, and we are so pleased to work with you. We hope this will be a very fruitful collaboration in the future."
She also commended the impressive campus and innovative teaching methods at KNUST.
"The campus is impressive, with the large number of students you are offering higher education to, in structure and in innovative ways of teaching students, making all of us grow together," she said.
Professor Eric Appau Asante, Director of the E-Learning Centre at KNUST, highlighted key themes from discussions with Darmstadt University that could shape future collaborations.
A major focus is on both physical and virtual staff mobility, allowing faculty and administrative staff from both institutions to benefit from programs or short certificate courses in each other’s countries. He noted that virtual mobility is a cost-effective way to facilitate knowledge exchange and cultural interaction without the need for extensive travel.
Another key initiative is the introduction of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), a concept already being explored in the ongoing partnership. COIL aims to create collaborative online platforms for students and faculty to engage in joint educational programs.
This initiative is expected to enhance global learning experiences and strengthen ties between the two universities, offering a flexible and inclusive approach to international collaboration.
Professor David Asamoah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, underscored the significance of collaborative partnerships in advancing academic excellence.
"As a university, and particularly as part of the Vice-Chancellor’s vision, collaborative partnership is one of the key areas, and we believe that with this partnership, the two institutions stand to gain a great deal," he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress of the collaboration: "I'm very happy to hear that we've exceeded your expectations, and we will continue to do more."
Professor Asamoah encouraged the delegation from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences to explore relationships with other faculties within KNUST to broaden the scope of their collaboration for mutual benefit. He also conveyed, on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, continuous gratitude for both present and future collaborations.
