The Directorate of Students’ Affairs (DoSA) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has held an in-house preparatory meeting to coordinate activities for the safe arrival of first-year students for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The meeting, held on Dec. 18, brought together management staff based at the J. Harper Building, including representatives from the KNUST Counselling Centre, Career Services Centre, KNUST-owned hostels, senior tutors of the Ghana Universities Staff Superannuation Scheme (GUSSS), the DoSA Experience Cohort and a representative from the Obuasi Campus.

Welcoming participants, the Director of Students’ Affairs, Professor Marian Asantewah Nkansah, said the engagement was aimed at aligning preparations for KNUST’s “Safe Arrival” programme, scheduled for Jan. 6–8, 2026.

She provided a brief historical overview of the University’s orientation and reception processes, noting that the current model reflects years of refinement to enhance the first-year student experience.

Professor Nkansah said the meeting reviewed the activity timeline for the safe arrival period, confirmed role assignments and assessed the state of readiness of the various units involved.

Logistics arrangements for key locations, including the J. Harper Building, Royal Parade Grounds, Wilkado, the Community Centre and the Tech Junction bus stops, were discussed.

The Deputy Director in charge of Housing and Welfare, Professor Samuel Amos-Abanyie, reported on preparations for off-campus hostels designated for first-year students, noting that two inspections had been completed, with a third scheduled before Christmas. He said similar arrangements were underway at the Obuasi Campus.

He added that a Students with Disability (SWD) desk would again be stationed at the J. Harper Building, with services extended this year to the Royal Parade Grounds to better support persons with disabilities.

The Deputy Director responsible for Conduct and Discipline, Professor Akwasi Acheampong Anning, who chairs the Online Orientation and International Safe Arrival Committees, briefed participants on preparations, including recorded welcome messages from strategic management members and an interactive online orientation to be held ahead of reopening.

He said teams had also been constituted to receive students at Kotoka International Airport, Prempeh I International Airport and major bus terminals in Accra and Kumasi.

Mrs. Theodora Oduro, Senior Assistant Registrar and secretary to the Online Safe Arrival and Orientation Committees, said a special interactive online question-and-answer session would be organised for international students for the second consecutive year to address outstanding concerns ahead of their travel.

The Deputy Registrar of DoSA, Mrs. Victoria De-Graft, addressed admission-related issues, including access to information and the timing of communication to prospective students.

Closing the meeting, Professor Nkansah thanked staff on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, and the University’s management for their commitment to creating a safe, supportive and impactful environment for KNUST students.