Kumasi: 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 Ghana News Agency, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, KNUST Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the importance of 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," she stated. Speaking at the opening of the 2025 E-Learning Week at KNUST, she noted that the University had chosen to navigate the transformation with intentionality.
The Vice-Chancellor stressed that improving educational technology should focus not only on enhancing efficiency but also on advancing equity and ensuring inclusivity. This year's celebration revolves around the theme: 'Transforming Education through Responsible Innovation and Inclusion in the Digital Era'. The Awareness Week aims to gather innovators, educators, policymakers, researchers, and industry partners to exchange ideas and share best practices.
Professor Dickson highlighted KNUST's utilization of the E-space in examinations, noting that over 50,000 students across various colleges participated in online examinations during the first semester. She acknowledged the commitment of Prof Eric Appau Asante, Director of the E-Learning Center, and his team, for their strategic infrastructure upgrades that facilitated online examinations. Training efforts by the E-Learning Center have been pivotal in building confidence among both staff and students in the use of digital tools.
Mr Emmanuel Ofori, Director in-charge of Innovation Directorate at the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, called for equity in the digital space across Ghana. He emphasized the necessity of transforming education through responsible innovation and meaningful inclusion to ensure that every Ghanaian child can learn, grow, and thrive in the digital era.
The E-Learning Center's innovations include virtual reality and podcast studios. Prof Appau Asante advised that while innovation drives modern education, it must be pursued with responsibility, inclusion, and ethical intent. He observed that with the rapid evolution of AI, immersive technologies, and big data shaping education, the priority should be to ensure that these tools serve as instruments for progress rather than barriers that deepen educational divides.
The opening of the 2025 E-Learning Awareness Week also marked the commissioning of the Drone Simulation and Innovation Center, where individuals will receive intensive training in drone operation. This Center was a donation from Mr Daniel Acquaye, CEO of Agri-Mpact Limited, and the KNUST E-Learning Center Ambassador.
