KNUST Engineering College Boosts Industry Ties for Innovation
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s College of Engineering has launched an ambitious drive to deepen industry partnerships, aiming to accelerate innovation and develop practical solutions for Ghana’s infrastructure, energy, and climate challenges. This strategic shift was announced at the College of Engineering and Industry Symposium in Kwawu-Nkwatia, Eastern Region.
Provost Prof. Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko told attendees that confronting Ghana’s complex development issues requires unprecedented collaboration between academia, industry, and government. “No single institution can address these challenges alone,” he stated. “This partnership is not optional – it’s essential for national progress.”
The college, which currently trains 10,000 undergraduates and 1,000 postgraduates, sees its newly graduated 2,300 engineers – including 49 PhD recipients – as critical human capital for these partnerships. While its Innovation Centre has produced promising startups, Prof. Nyarko stressed that “industry support remains crucial to scale these ventures into viable enterprises.”
Prof. Samuel Patrick Owusu-Ofori demonstrated how university-industry collaborations create mutual benefits: “Industry gains youthful talent and cost-effective innovation, while universities secure funding, curriculum enhancement, and graduate placements.” The symposium featured major players like GRIDCo and Bui Power Authority detailing specific collaboration frameworks.
GRIDCo officials outlined current projects including AI-based predictive maintenance research and student internships across their transmission network. “Our MoU renewal with KNUST will formalize data sharing and infrastructure access for critical research,” a presentation noted.
Similarly, Bui Power Authority proposed joint laboratories and co-developed curricula focused on renewable energy integration. Participants universally called for moving beyond ad-hoc cooperation to establish formal, long-term partnership structures that align academic programs with national development priorities.
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