The Chancellor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Professor Mellissa Nobles has delivered a public lecture on the theme "The Student at the Heart of University Education." The lecture held on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) was organised by KNUST Engineering Education Project (KEEP), Responsible Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL) and the Public Lectures Committee of the University.
In her welcome address, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson expressed her honour at hosting the esteemed Chancellor of MIT and highlighted the significance of the chosen topic. She emphasised the importance of providing the necessary environment and support to ensure the absolute success of students, as they are the central focus of Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Professor Dickson acknowledged that without students, there would be no higher education institution, making the lecture particularly important for actors in the higher education sector.
The lecture, she said, would centre around the student-centric model, which highlights the importance of robust support systems encompassing academic, psychological, psychosocial and career counselling services, among others, to ensure student success. She further urged faculty members not only to serve as instructors but also to act as mentors and academic tutors, guiding students throughout their academic journey. She further underlined KNUST's commitment to inclusive education, where diversity and respect for human dignity are always upheld.
Delivering her lecture, Professor Melissa Nobles shared her joy in joining KNUST, the number one global destination for quality education (SDG 4), ranked by the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2023. She explained the ‘Whole Student Approach’ as a holistic way of teaching and learning, which encourages intellectual growth, and curiosity and empowers students to form and lead their own organisations, fostering self-governance and teamwork. She highlighted the significance of student engagement in the learning process, such as active learning, questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Professor Nobles also disclosed that students are the centrepiece of the education system in the ‘Whole Student Approach.’ To this end, she underscored the crucial role primary and secondary educational systems play in paving the way for higher education, which she described as fundamental to human progress.
According to her, universities must be forward-looking with the responsibility of preparing, investing in, and leading their students for the future. She stressed the significance of cultivating critical thinking, curiosity, and a multidisciplinary mindset among students to push the boundaries of disciplines. Knowing the world's need for creative thinkers to address humanity's problems, she called on all tertiary institutions to play their part in the personal development of their students.
Addressing the perception that MIT students are solely focused on science and technology, Professor Nobles revealed the Institution's involvement in interdisciplinary research. She, therefore, charged scientists to collaborate with social scientists in considering the ethics and social responsibility surrounding the technologies they invent.
The lecture drew significant attendance from faculty and students of KNUST, Kumasi Technical University, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Wisconsin International University College, Kumasi Campus, University College of Management Studies, Kumasi, Ghana Baptist University College, Kumasi, and Jackson Educational Complex. The session ended with an interactive question and answer session, where students had the opportunity to pose questions to the Chancellor of MIT.
