Mainstreaming Environment and Sustainability in African (MESA) Universities’ Partnership Programme

EDUCATE THE EDUCATORS “ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATE THE EDUCATORS “ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) INNOVATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) INNOVATIONS

COURSE”COURSE”

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) IN ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESD) IN AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES: THE CASE OF KWAME NKRUMAH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES: THE CASE OF KWAME NKRUMAH

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI, UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI, GHANA GHANA

By E. FrempongBy E. Frempong

Organized by: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) and SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY REGIONAL

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME (SADC REEP)

KENYA SCHOOL OF MONITARY STUDIES, NAIROBI, KENYA

4-9 MAY, 2006

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology was founded to provide higher education with special reference to science and technology, and to act as a catalyst for the technological development of Ghana. It was originally established in 1951 as Kumasi College of Technology.

Currently the University has undergone a fundamental restructuring from a widely fragmented collection of faculties and institutes to six (6) compact and focused colleges.

VISIONVISION Advancing knowledge in Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in Africa

CORE VALUESCORE VALUES

One of the four (4) core values of the University is “Leadership in Innovation and Technology”

ESD AT KNUSTESD AT KNUSTSustainable Development Concepts have been

incorporated in a number of programmes run by various Departments within the six (6) colleges.

In addition, specific centers such as “ Center for Biodiversity Utilization and Development (CBUD) and Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR) are actively involved in Sustainable Development Programmes intended to meet the economic and health needs of various communities.

i.i. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMESCOMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMES

Academic and administrative staffs are actively involved in community outreach programmes including:

On-farm participatory trials, Collaboration with farmers and other groups Seminars, workshops and training programmes Radio/television talk shows Open-day activities for basic and secondary school

students, and farmers

ii. ii. COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS AND MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS AND

AGENCIES (MDAs)AGENCIES (MDAs)

College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources, College of Science, and College of Health Sciences have very successful research

linkages with MDAs.

iii. iii. Participation in conservation Participation in conservation programmesprogrammesThese include: Government plantation development

programmes Forest resources management

projects Forest sector development projects High forest biodiversity conservation

projects Wild fire management in the tropical

zone

iv. iv. Community education on Community education on environmental issuesenvironmental issues

Academic staff from the College of Art and Social Sciences educate the rural communities on environmental management practices and sustainable farming systems.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONMainstreaming of ESD into Universities

will enhance KNUST’s capacity to fulfill its vision as incorporated into its Strategic

Plan 2005-2014