KNUST to replace faculties with Colleges.

Under an on-going restructuring programme, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is to create six colleges to replace the existing Faculties and Departments, Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice-Chancellor of the University has announced.

The College will be known as College of Engineering, Science, Health, Land and Built Environment, Agriculture, Art and Social Science.

Presenting a statement on the vision and mission of the KNUST for the next four years at a press soiree in Kumasi on Thursday, Professor Andam explained that the fragmented nature of the existing Faculties and Departments does not allow for effective supervision and performance.

The soiree formed part of a three-day programme activities being organised by the University to mark the 100 days of induction of Professor Andam into office as the VC of KNUST.

"As at today, work on two of the proposed Colleges, namely Land and Built Environment and Agriculture have been completed and the reports presented to the appropriate body for study", he disclosed.

Further to this, and in line with its new vision, Professor Andam said Deans of Faculties are working vigorously at reviewing the curricula of the various programmes at the Faculties, "With inputs from industry".

This initiative, he said, was intended to make KNUST study programmes and its products to respond more positively to the needs of local industry and society.

Professor Andam attributed the current problems facing the University to long neglect, but said the leadership was now poised to be more innovative to address some of the problems by itself.

He mentioned the effort at attracting young lecturers to replace the ageing lecturers in the University who were about to go on retirement.

Mr Thomas Nsowah Adjei, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), suggested the institution of media briefing sessions on regular basis to bring to the fore research findings and new developments at the University to help quicken the pace of development.

This, he said, would enable the media to effectively portray the activities of the University better to the end users.