The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has initiated a move to extend 4G WiFi internet access five kilometres off the university campus.
“We want to extend the WiFi coverage extensively to ensure drop off rate (internet access) is reduced significantly,” the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson said, adding that interaction between lecturers and students must continue outside the physical classroom.
“We need to expand access for students who are not within the campus, students who live on the periphery of our campus.”
E-learning week
In a speech read on her behalf by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu Dabo, during the launch of the maiden KNUST E-Learning Week in Kumasi on Monday (August 29, 2022), the Vice Chancellor said the initiative was in line with the management’s digitisation agenda.
The week-long programme is on the theme: “KNUST E-Learning; A New Age for Digital Transformation”.
Technological advances
The VC noted that it was incumbent on the university to be involved in the virtual space, saying the Covid-19 pandemic made it clear that the university could no longer go at their own pace as far as the digital transformation race was concerned.
She noted that as part of their in-house preparations towards this new order and to be able to leverage on the new ways of doing things to provide diverse online platforms to enhance teaching, learning and research, all faculty members of the university had undergone mandatory training in diversified modes of delivery, including the psychology of online teaching.
Lined-up events
On his part, Professor Eric Apau Asante, the Director, KNUST E-Learning Centre, said the week-long celebration will provide the opportunity for the University to engage all the relevant stakeholders in the e-learning ecosystem.
This will draw producers, e-learning content creators and online learners and users to interact and share their experiences, the challenges and opportunities of the e-learning ecosystem,” he noted.
The list of activities that will take place during the celebration includes; a virtual tour, panel discussions on emerging strategies for online teaching and learning, an awards’ ceremony, and also the inauguration of the Ghana E-Learning Day.
