Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP), Arizona State University (ASU) in collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organised its 2nd Faculty Development Symposium (FDS) under the theme: ‘Understanding Research & Pedagogical Practices’. The Symposium which drew students and lecturers from the Colleges of Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences treated topics on Capstone, Simulations and how to be an effective Reviewer.
Professor Charles Ansah, the Pro. Vice Chancellor of KNUST in his opening remarks said that KNUST aims at advancing Science and Technology in Ghana and Africa as a whole, for which reason the University is constantly forging partnerships with other universities in areas geared towards the achievement of this goal. He added that, KNUST is committed to expanding its research opportunities beyond the shores of Ghana, and its willingness to continue to build stronger ties with other universities that share in this vision of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in Ghana and Africa.
Prof. Ansah said that the partnership that has existed between Mastercard Foundation and KNUST, has led to the collaboration between KNUST and ASU which is aimed at training students in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Human Resource Management and Logistics and Supply Chain Management. In addition, he said, the partnership seeks to offer higher collaborative research experiences, opportunities and best learning practices. He expressed the hope that the collaboration which is expected to train 150 scholars over a six year period would equip them to give back to society.
In another development, Professor William Otoo Ellis, the Chairman of the Mastercard Foundation in a short address said that since the academic environment keeps changing, the University is organising such partnership programmes to help the university stay abreast with changing trends. He added that the collaboration is focused on students and institutional capacity with a direct focus on faculty development. He said that the collaboration between KNUST and ASU is termed 3+1+1 which, he explained, requires students in the third year at KNUST who fulfil the needed requirements, to transfer to ASU to complete their final year and go ahead to pursue an accelerated master’s programme for one year. Professor Otoo Ellis indicated that 30 students are expected to leave for ASU this year to join the 20 students who left last year.
Professor Aryn Baxter, Director at the Center for Advanced Studies in Global Education of ASU, commended the performance of the 20 students of KNUST in ASU pursuing the 3+1+1 programme and expressed hope in training more students from KNUST. She added that MCFSP is working on the Scholars Program to develop the collaboration and opportunity to strengthen institutional linkages in KNUST.
