The Vice-Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, has received Dr. Matthew Smith, Senior Program Specialist at Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), during his official visit to the university.
The visit focused on strengthening collaboration around the Responsible AI Lab at KNUST and reviewing progress made since its establishment.
Principal Investigator for the Responsible AI Lab, Professor Jerry John Kponyo, described the visit as timely and important.
“This visit provides an opportunity for Dr. Smith to see firsthand how the lab has developed and to familiarize himself with KNUST and ongoing works,” he said.
Professor Kponyo recalled that the lab emerged in 2020 from a proposal that initially received positive feedback but limited funding.
“We assembled a strong team and submitted our proposal. Although it was well received, the funding available at the time was not sufficient,” he said. “Dr. Smith and his team recognized the potential of the project and took the initiative to reach out to partners, including GIZ, to support the establishment of the lab,” he added.
Dr. Smith, who is on his fourth visit to Ghana and his first official visit to KNUST, described the campus as beautiful and praised the university’s strong team spirit.
He noted that KNUST’s proposal stood out from the outset for being innovative and ahead of its time.
“Not every institution prioritizes research that directly engages and benefits communities. That orientation makes KNUST particularly appealing as a partner,” he said, commending the university’s focus on responsible AI and community impact.
Professor Dickson emphasised that KNUST’s research agenda is anchored on relevance and societal impact.
“For us, research becomes truly impactful when it enhances the quality of life of communities. Otherwise, the work remains incomplete,” she said.
She added that the university is committed to training students to become job creators in response to rising youth unemployment.
“We are very much aware that unemployment is a problem among the youth, so we focus on training not just employees, but job creators,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that KNUST has introduced new academic initiatives in artificial intelligence as part of its forward-looking strategy.
“We recognize that artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept, it is our present reality. As a University, we have taken deliberate steps to ensure our students and staff are equipped to thrive in this evolving technological landscape,” she said.
Professor Dickson reaffirmed KNUST’s readiness to collaborate on future projects and welcomed continued partnership with IDRC.
