Stakeholders in the education sectors of Ghana and Korea have met in Accra to discuss the curriculum for the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) to be established in Bunso in the Eastern Region.
Scheduled to start next month, the construction of the university would be funded with an $80 million loan from the Korea Development Cooperation Fund and $25 million from the Government of Ghana.
The UESD would focus on Agriculture (agronomy, animal science and agribusiness) and engineering (electric and electronic engineering, computer science and engineering) to prepare students for the job market.
Professor Jang Saeng Kim, Project Manager, addressing participants yesterday, said the goal was to contribute to the economic and social development of Ghana by cultivating human resources; facilitating innovative changes and creating jobs in the country’s agriculture and manufacturing industries.
He said it would also help foster human resources, network, innovation and sustainability and environment, thereby “constructing sustainable and innovative university with interactive spirit.”
Prof. Kim said under industry-academia cooperation, the programme aimed to teach students’ knowledge and skills, because the industry needed more hands-on learning experience and opportunities to participate in developmental activities.
According to him, the project was initially supposed to be completed in August this year, but due to some challenges, the project would be completed in 2024.
Dr Charles Brempong–Yeboah, Acting Rector, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Bonsu, said the Koreans have developed a curriculum to be used by the faculties that would be established but were in Ghana to seek local input to fit the Ghanaian setting.
“So they have invited professors of education, agriculture, university management to come together and look at what they have drawn to dissect, subtract, add on to suit the local conditions,“ he said.
He said the university when completed would standalone and “be an independent university focused on the study of engineering and agriculture.”
“From time immemorial since the British were here, Bunso area has been known for agricultural education but this time they are going to expand it into an engineering and later on an architectural university,” Prof.Brempong –Yeboah said.
He said there would be an exchange programme where lecturers from both countries would have the opportunity to learn from each other.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
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