The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Monday commenced its 9th Summer School, 2021 for staff of the university.
About a thousand participants from various colleges, units and some partners of the university are attending the four-day Summer School on the theme ‘SDGs and Universities: Actions towards KNUST’s mandate at 70 and beyond.’
It seeks to foster partnership among the staff of the university, affiliate institutions and partners to enhance their knowledge in implementing the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the quality of work and promote higher quality education in Ghana.
The Head of Quality Assurance and Planning Unit (QAPU), Professor Jerry John Kponyo, said this year’s Summer School was unique in many ways as it coincided with the 70th anniversary celebration of the university this year.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor (Mrs) Rita Akosua Dickson urged the academia to create constructive partnerships with other other institutions of higher learnings and its stakeholders to implement the use of science, constructive research and innovations to drive and achieve the various SDGs.
The Chief Executive Director (CED), Clean-Africae.V, Mrs Mathilda Freda Marful expressed gratitude to KNUST since this was the first series of collaborationsto have taken place after a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions was signed, stressing that networking was a very key factor in achieving the SDGs.
She expressed the hope that the collaboration would transform into research activities and tangible projects towards the Global Developmental Agenda “this is because each of our actions counts in the realisation of the seventeen (17) Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder, Intelligence Nature International, Dr William Bannerman, said that the activities of humans had affected negatively on planetearth, and“it is our responsibility to protect it from destabilising the systems which we rely for survival.”
Citing from the United Nations report index, Dr Bannerman said there was a decline of 2020 SDG’S performance, resulting in increase in poverty rates and unemployment following the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic.
“This means that there is the need to cease the opportunity and create businesses knowledge and innovation which KNUST is a leader in that aspect.”
Joining the programme virtually, the Member of Parliament for the Suame Constituency and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called for a collaboration between the university and artisans in creating sustainable jobs for the youth.
In a podium discussion, theVice-President of Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (FRA-UAS) Professor Martina Klaerle who joined virtually, Professor Hans Jurgen Schmitz, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, all called for a sustainable and integrated approach starting from individuals.Again, they said it was important for the forging of partnerships and to incorporate all sessions of the university in order to achieve the SDGs.
BY TIMES REPORTER
