Picture: The international students with Senior Management and other Senior Members of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor of Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Ing. Professor Osei-Wusu Achaw has advised the international students of the University not to show any attitude of alienation and estrangement towards each other regardless of their difference in nationality.
He was speaking at an interaction session with the international students, organised by the Office of International Affairs and Institutional Linkages (IAIL). The meeting was to allow the Vice-Chancellor and Senior Management engage with the students, identify their challenges and the way forward. The event took place at the Council Chamber of the University.
Prof. Osei-Wusu lauded the students for their choice to study in Ghana despite the existing opportunities in other countries. He urged them to stay positive amidst the challenges associated with studying at a higher level and be good ambassadors of KsTU in their home countries. He also appealed to them to talk to their friends to see KsTU as the best option for technical university education. “Our programmes are cutting-edge that can make your employability global in nature,” he said. The Vice-Chancellor further encouraged the students to channel their grievances through the International Affairs Directorate for the needed attention. The Director of IAIL Prof. Gabriel Dwomoh, in his remarks said, KsTU had over fifty-two international students from over thirteen different countries.
The President of the International Students Association, Mr. Djobi Titikpeu Lionel on behalf of the international students expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and the IAIL for their relentless support. He gave the assurance that the foreign students will continue to be law-abiding and do what is expected of them. However, some challenges were raised regarding students from the francophone countries who are still learning the English language. They appealed to lecturers to continue to be patient with them as some of their colleagues might not be as proficient in the English language as expected. They also expressed satisfaction about how approachable the lecturers are. Nevertheless, some of them mentioned that they live outside the campus which is challenging for them, especially, with the continuing students.
Addressing some of the concerns of the students, The Deputy Director of IAIL, Dr. Mrs. Gladys Tuo mentioned that the Office will continuously collaborate with the International Students Association to develop an improved plan to cater for the wellbeing of foreign students in KsTU. She further outlined measures being put in place to formulate a mentorship policy where International students would be assigned mentors who would intervene regarding challenges they may face on campus and also make them feel at home. Dr. Mrs. Gladys Tuo emphasized that most of the lecturers have had part of their education outside Ghana but through the support and warm reception by the countries in which they studied, they succeeded.
The Registrar, Mr. Ebenezer Kofi Boakye, urged the students to take advantage of the opportunities available and make good use of them. He said, KsTU would make them feel at home and urged them to be rest assured that Management would continue to support them throughout their stay.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Mike Agbesi Acheampong on his part assured the students that all their challenges would be seriously looked at, especially, those that bothered on academic work and accommodation.
The event saw students sharing their experiences so far in KsTU as international students. Countries that were represented included Nigeria, Cameroun, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Mali, Gabon, Congo, Pakistan, Ivory Coast, Benin, Gambia, Guinea, Chad among others.
