By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, July 24, GNA – The E-Learning Center at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has opened a week-long awareness week with a call on users to leverage technology responsibly.
According to Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, KNUST Vice-Chancellor, the emphasis must always be on the responsible use of digital tools.
“You don’t try to solve problems by creating another, it is the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), immersive technologies we hammer on”.
Speaking at the opening of 2025 E-Learning Week at KNUST, she indicated that, the University had chosen to navigate the transformation with intentionality.
“We believe that improving educational technology does not only lie in improving efficiency, but advancing equity and ensuring that no one is left behind”, she indicated.
This year’s celebration is on the theme: “Transforming Education through Responsible Innovation and Inclusion in the Digital Era”.
The Awareness Week is expected to bring together innovators, educators, policymakers, researchers and industry partners, among others, to exchange ideas and share best practices.
The Vice-Chancellor mentioned that KNUST was utilizing the E-space in examinations, citing that during the first semester, over 50, 000 across the various colleges were able to take part of their examinations online.
She commended the Director of the E-Learning Center, Prof Eric Appau Asante, and team for their commitment to service and through the strategic infrastructure upgrades to ensure examinations were taken online.
Prof Dickson said training efforts of the E-Learning Center for both staff and students had demystified digital tools and built beneficiaries confidence.
Mr Emmanuel Ofori, Director in-charge of Innovation Directorate at the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, called for a Ghana where there was equity in the digital space.
“It was necessary we transformed education through responsible innovation and meaningful inclusion “so that every Ghanaian child, no matter where they are born, can learn, grow, and thrive in this digital era”.
The other area of innovation by the E-Learning Center was the virtual reality and podcast studios.
Prof Appau Asante, Director of the Center, advised that, while innovation had become the heartbeat of modern education, it must be driven with responsibility, inclusion and ethical intent.
“As we witness the rapid evolution of AI, immersive technologies, and big data shaping teaching and learning, our responsibility is to ensure that these tools become instruments, rather than barriers that deepen educational divides”, he observed.
The opening of the 2025 E-Learning Awareness Week was also used to officially commission the Drone Simulation and Innovation Center where individuals will receive intensive training in drone operation.
The Center is a donation from Mr Daniel Acquaye, CEO, Agri-Mpact Limited and also the KNUST E-Learning Center Ambassador.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Christian Akorlie