The University Information Technology Services (UITS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has successfully held its annual six-week bootcamp designed to provide Senior High School leavers, university students, and IT enthusiasts with practical digital skills and hands-on experience in emerging technologies.

The intensive training programme, which began in 2017, aims to build capacity in areas such as computer hardware, networking, cybersecurity, and software development.

The annual bootcamp stands out as one of the university’s flagship programmes advancing Ghana’s digital transformation agenda by equipping students with technological skills that drive national development and innovation.

According to Mr. Ishmael Kwaw Obeng, Senior ICT Assistant at UITS, the bootcamp this year focused on helping participants develop core technical skills while encouraging creativity and innovation.

“The idea is to build passion for IT, whether in software, cybersecurity, or hardware. We helped students to develop their own databases, design web applications, and write programming code,’ he explained

He added that the bootcamp is open to everyone, regardless of academic background.

“Even participants with no IT experience can join. We start from scratch, and by the end of the course, they can assemble and disassemble computers, troubleshoot systems, and build basic web applications,” he said.

By combining database management and programming, participants gained the ability to build complete web applications capable of addressing real-world challenges.

Mr. Edinam Kofi Gablah, Principal ICT Assistant at UITS, emphasized the practical, hands-on nature of the training.

“We try to understand the computer systems, what makes up the system, the various components on the motherboard, and how they work together,” he said.

“The bootcamp allows participants to identify, navigate, and fix faults in computer hardware while appreciating how each component contributes to the system’s performance.”

Mr. Abubakari Yahaya, Senior Systems Analyst at UITS, also highlighted the broader goal behind the bootcamp.

“The idea behind this initiative is to impart knowledge to our students and equip them with basic IT skills that can make them productive both in school and the work environment,” he explained.

This year’s edition also encouraged female participation, breaking the stereotype that IT is a male-dominated field. 

Students share lessons

From mastering Google tools to writing code, creating databases, and exploring artificial intelligence, the programme opened a new world of discovery and confidence for many first-time learners.

For Leilatu Osman Ahmed, a Business student from St. Louis Senior High School, the experience was nothing short of eye-opening.

“I thought we were only going to do programming, but we learned so much more. From using Google tools to creating slides, videos, and websites,” she said. “We even learned HTML, SQL, and Visual Studio. I wish the bootcamp could have lasted longer because there was so much to explore.”

Evans Agalega Junior from Opoku Ware School shared how the camp gave him a solid foundation in IT.

“It has really been exciting. I learned how to create Google forms and quizzes, use AI tools to create images and videos, and design databases. We even learned programming in C#. I’m going to continue learning when I go home,” he said.

Lawrence Yaw Darkwah, a recent graduate of St. James Seminary and Senior High School, said the bootcamp completely changed his perception of technology.

“I didn’t use laptops much before this, but now I can create websites, documents, slides, and even use AI prompts to get detailed results,” he explained. “I also learned database creation with Microsoft SQL and programming in C#. It was very educative, and I’ll come again if I get the chance.”

At the hardware training section, Veronica Nakol, a second-year Computer Science student, discovered new confidence in her technical ability.

“With this course, I can now troubleshoot my laptop and even help my friends fix theirs,” she said. “It’s a very exciting feeling.”

Similarly, Karen Nana Moku, a third-year Business Administration student, found the camp both empowering and practical.

“I’ve learned about the components of the motherboard and system unit, and how to disassemble and assemble them,” she said with excitement.

For Janette Amoatemaa Sarfo, the collaborative and interactive atmosphere made all the difference.

“The bootcamp has been insightful and fun,” she shared. “Our facilitators were very engaging, and it has really improved my problem-solving skills. I’ve become more decisive about what I want to do next.”