The Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo recently met with officials at the University of Coventry to explore areas of possible collaboration between the University and Ghana.
A press release issued by the High Commission here, stated that during the meeting with the officials at the University, the authorities disclosed that the Midlands institution could offer discounts to Ghanaian students, under the Chevening Scholarship programme.
This, they disclosed, could be in addition to offering full scholarships to the Ghana High Commission in London to disburse to bright
young students in Ghana. The University also promised to provide support for a reasonable number of students on Ghana Government scholarships by subsidizing their tuition fees.
Professor Danso-Boafo said he was happy with the University's good gesture. He said the Government of Ghana would want to train people to assist in the ongoing oil and gas exploration in the country. He, therefore, hoped the proposed scholarships would be geared towards courses in these industries.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor of Coventry University, Dr David Pilsbury, discussed with Prof. Danso-Boafo other areas of collaboration between the University and the Ghana High Commission. The discussions included the proposed introduction of the University's Business Simulating Project in Ghana.
The Project is designed to provide business and technical know-how to those aspiring students who wish to set up their own businesses in the
future.
"we are looking forward to welcoming a lot more Ghanaians here to experience UK education.", Dr Pilsbury, added.
At the meeting were Mr. Tim Hunt, Regional Manager for Africa, Mr. Rob Atkinson, Director of International Office, Mr. Gumail Singh, Head of International Programmes and Prof. Jane Colon, Head of Technical and Business Education (TABIESA).
Coventry University was set up by Prince Albert in the 19th century as a design school to design textiles that were being produced at the time.
Although Arts and Design remains one of the flagship programmes, they now have strong engineering and health science faculties.
Prof. Danso -Boafo proposed possible collaboration between Coventry University and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. . According to Dr Pilsbury the University was keen on developing fixed and
wireless telephone lines in Ghana. He hinted that the University plans to start a Masters Degree programme in telecommunications at the Ghana Telecom University.
In his contribution, Dr. Singh said that officials from the University would soon visit Ghana to assess standards at the Ghana Telecom University for the award of Coventry University certificates. He revealed that the University was updating telecommunication equipments and installing modern software at the Ghana Telecom University.
Prof. Danso-Boafo later interacted with a section of the Ghanaian students at the Coventry University to find out how they were coping with
their respective programmes of study. He introduced Dr. Quaye Botchway, the
Midlands vice Chair of Ghana Union to the students and encouraged the students to register with the Ghana Union, which could serve as the first port of call in the event of any difficulty.
He encouraged them also to take their studies seriously and advised them to endeavour to return home after their studies to assist in the
development process going on in the country.
The students were also briefed on career opportunities in Ghana by the High
Commissioner who informed them the Commission in the UK provides information on career opportunities in Ghana. He advised the students to register their qualifications for inclusion in the skills database being compiled by the Mission. The Mission he said has links with the Public Service recruitment in Ghana. There are currently 23 Ghanaian students on full fee paying programmes' at Coventry University, The release stated.