A two-man delegation from Gelsenkirchen Bocholt Recklinghausen (University of Applied Sciences) in Germany has paid a working visit to Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) to explore possible areas of cooperation and collaboration between their university and the KsTU.
The two delegates, Prof. Dr. Ing. Ralf Holzhauer and Prof. Dr. Winfried Schmidt intimated that their visit was occasioned by the historical relationship that the German Technical Universities have had with Ghanaian Universities. They further mentioned that the essence of fostering cooperation and collaboration with KsTU hinges on the mutual benefits that are usually accrued to such institutions for going international. They said, their students from Germany are likely to benefit from the relationship in terms of experiences from KsTU and vice versa. As they put it, “both students will learn about each other’s culture, ideas and technical solutions to common problems. It is also important to share business ideas at this level”.
Prof. Dr. Winfried Schmidt, one of the two visiting professors emphasised that their Engineering students have always longed to have international experiences and Ghana is one of the places they always want to visit. This he said is mainly due to the stories their students hear about Summer Schools they occasionally organise in Ghana.
They were of the opinion that since the Polytechnics were initially not part of their scheme of things, the new status of the Institution as Technical University offers an opportunity to learn from each other, know each other’s problem and see how both KsTU and their University could work together in various fields. It was however, certain from the interaction that the first areas of collaboration would be on energy, water and waste management. The cooperation will also facilitate research and sourcing for funding regarding other research works between the staff of KsTU and the University of Applied Science in Germany
In his welcome address, the Acting Vice Chancellor of KsTU Prof Agbesi Acheampong who stood in for the care-taker Vice Chancellor (Interim Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asiamah Yeboah) was happy for the visit and the intended cooperation and collaboration.
