The College of Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is seeking to deepen collaboration with industry and transform academic research into practical solutions, hinting at the construction of a GH¢40 million Technology and Innovation Building.
The project is in celebration of the College’s 75 years of engineering education and producing prominent and active engineering professionals for nation-building.
The proposed four-to-five-storey Technology and Innovation Building would provide space for students to develop and test their ideas, while enabling companies to collaborate directly with university researchers on new technologies and products.
Provost of the College, Professor Kwabena Biritwum Nyarko, says the institution’s next phase of development would depend on stronger partnerships between researchers, students and industry to develop technologies, products and services that address real-world challenges.
“We are therefore not simply inviting industry to support the College. We are inviting industry to innovate with us,” he said.
The launching ceremony was held under the theme “Excellence to Eminence: 75 Years of Engineering Education at KNUST”.
The event brought together university authorities, industry representatives, alumni and traditional leaders, with speakers emphasising the need for engineering education to deliver greater impact beyond the classroom.
The anniversary comes at a time when the College is seeking to build on its history by strengthening the connection between education, research and industry.
KNUST Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare, called for closer links between academic research and industry, arguing that universities must ensure their work produces tangible benefits for society.
“Universities have a responsibility to generate knowledge. But they must ensure that such knowledge is translated into solutions that respond to real social needs,” he said.
Professor Agyare urged industry partners to support research, provide equipment and practical training opportunities, and collaborate with the College on projects that would strengthen graduates’ employability and Ghana’s technological capacity.
“For industry, the challenge is not simply to employ graduates but to help prepare them for the practical demands of the profession,” he noted.
Chief Executive Officer of Associated Consultants Ltd, Ing. Kwabena Bempong, who is an alumnus of the College, said discipline and service were essential to moving from excellence to eminence.
“The bridge, for me, is discipline and service, urging students to take industrial attachments seriously, learn from real projects and maintain professional integrity,” he said.
He also pointed to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy and digital construction as areas requiring engineers who can adapt to technological change without losing sight of fundamental engineering principles.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu, Paramount Chief of Asante Mampong and an alumnus of the College, called for sustained investment in research facilities, stronger international partnerships and opportunities for students to turn their ideas into viable businesses.
Reflecting on his training in geomatics engineering, he highlighted the contribution of engineering knowledge to land management, infrastructure planning and national development.
“The College should make its anniversary a commitment to future progress rather than simply a celebration of past achievements,” he said.