Gambia Universities to Collaborate with KNUST for Exchange Programs

The Gambian Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Honourable Badara A. Joof, together with a delegation from the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), on Tuesday, 1st June 2021 at the Council Chamber.

According to Hon. Badara A. Joof, the purpose of their visit was to discuss the various areas of the collaboration; offering short courses, training and mentorship of Ph.D. students, enrolling mature students’, offloading students, marketing GTTI programmes at KNUST, training of MSc. students to serve as Research Assistants and Laboratory Technicians and to officially finalize the contractractual agreement between GTTI and KNUST.

The team also seized the opportunity to tour the College of Engineering (CoE) and other parts of the University.

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The Director-General of GTTI, Edward C. Mansal in his remarks revealed that GTTI is undergoing a transformational process to becoming a University of Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) and as an emerging Institute, they see the continuous mentoring by KNUST as essential to the growth of GTTI.

Receiving the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson noted that both institutions can successfully carry out their responsibilities by implementing the terms of the partnership effectively. According to the Vice-Chancellor, every partnership has challenges, but it takes the commitment, dedication, and willingness of parties to sit together and proffer solutions to such challenges as a possible means to achieve success.

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Professor Dickson assured the delegation of KNUST’s commitment to the outlined areas of the collaboration. She added that the KNUST team would work together with GTTI to provide the requisite technical support to train staff and provide the best mentorship programs.

She revealed that the delegation would have further discussions with the Provost of the College of Engineering (CoE) and interact with some PhD students from the Gambia.

In a meeting at CoE Board Room, the Provost of CoE, Professor Mark Adom-Asamoah indicated that KNUST was selected to mentor GTTI among other top universities by the World Bank to transition the Institute to a fully-fledged University of Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), Gambia. Per the terms of the agreement, KNUST will set up administrative and teaching faculties of the new University and mentor it.

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Professor Adom-Asamoah mentioned that a total of forty-seven (47) Undergraduates, ten (10) PhD and two (2) Master’s students from the Gambia have been enrolled in the Department of Civil, Electrical and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering in KNUST and ready to accept more students.

He disclosed that with the support of the University Information Technology Services (UITS), University Library, Quality Assurance and Planning Unit (QAPU), University Relations Office (URO), Admissions and Academic offices, GTTI will receive the assistance and mentorship in structuring their library, enhance their visibility and market GTTI for prospective students.

Hon. Badara A. Joof was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary to the MoHERST, Mod A.K. Secka, Deputy Secretary for Programs, Yusupha Touray, Project Manager, Abdoulie Sowe, Chief Financial Officer, Endora Taylor Thomas, and the Deputy Director of Academics, Alieu Secka.