1.0       Internationalization Strategy Profile of Kumasi Technical University

Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) was established in 1954 and our mandate is to  provide higher education in engineering, science and technology based disciplines, technical and vocational education and training, applied arts and related disciplines.  To deliver on this mandate, internationalization plays a key role to foster relationships with other partners in the areas of teaching, research and skills development.   KsTU aspires to increase its visibility and enhance its networking to promote collaborative research, teaching and learning.  This aspiration is so important to the University as the strategies and targets set to achieve this is enshrined in the University’s Strategic Plan (2021 – 2025).  The internationalization vision of KsTU is to be a leading global institution that shares it modus of operandi in University’s governance and also learn from the best practices of other leading institutions to offer first class services to its clients and other stakeholders. 

Our internationalization strategy has been prepared after carefully analyzing the institution’s strength to deliver on its mandate, research focus and existing relationships.  Various internal stakeholders which includes Deans, Directors and Key Officials of the University were consulted to develop the internationalization strategy to guide the University’s engagement with external partners to promote the internalization drive of the Institution.  

2.0       Goals of Internationalization Strategy

The main goal of the University’s Internationalization strategy is to promote the University’s vision of providing a first class technical, vocational and entrepreneurship education by offering the opportunity to our qualified graduates and employees to learn from our partners best practices that exists in other jurisdictions. To achieve this goal, the university internationalization strategy focuses on the following specific objectives:

• Attracting international students from diverse background
• Showcasing and sharing research findings with other partners
• Increasing the employability of our students per European standards
• Increasing the capacity of the university’s human resource access to international research and funding opportunities.
• Increasing international knowledge transfer within the university and with external stakeholders.
• Creating multilingual and multicultural structure to bridge language barriers that exist between KsTU and their partners
• Strengthening KsTU relations with other universities that share similar culture and mandate.

3.0       Scope of internationalization

The Internationalization of KsTU focuses on the following areas to increase the visibility and international presence of the University:

• Incoming and outgoing teaching and administrative staff mobilities
• Incoming and outgoing student mobilities
• Collaborative research with other university partners
• Joint curriculum development with partners
• Exchange of equipment and materials to promote teaching and learning

3.1       Incoming teaching and administrative staff

Teaching and administrative staff on mobility will have the opportunity to offer programme instructions that are taught in English and also share their experiences with other faculty members to bridge the multicultural and language barriers that exist between countries. KsTU will ensure that equal opportunities are given to all kinds of people irrespective of their gender, race, physical stature and country of origin in accepting incoming and outgoing teaching and administrative staff.  The University is also committed to providing all the facilities needed especially incoming staff who are physically challenged to make their stay comfortable.  Selection of staff shall always be done in a transparent manner with a clear criteria set in consultation with partner universities concerned.

3.2       Incoming and outgoing students’ mobility

In order to augment the technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills of students and that of our partners, the University shall encourage students’ mobility.  In all cases, KsTU shall have an inter-institutional agreement with partner universities that spells out how academic credits obtained by students on mobility can be acceptable to each other.  Selection of students shall follow the same way and transparent manner as that of staff on mobility.

3.3       Collaborative research and networking

The University as part of its internationalization drive shall encourage collaborative research through students and staff mobilities. Incoming and outing teaching staff are expected to collaborate and network with partner universities to promote research and knowledge transfer. Graduate collaborative research shall also be encouraged. This will serve as mentee-mentorship programme for professors to deepen the research understanding of graduate students who are on mobility.  

4.4       Joint curriculum development, exchange of academic materials and equipment

Developing a joint curriculum is very important as it sets out the standards required by the partners. KsTU aspires to develop academic programmes by taking inputs from partner universities and industries to bridge the gap in curriculum disparities that exists between countries. Exchange of equipment and other academic materials shall also be promoted to make training, teaching and learning acceptable to partner universities.

5.0       Regional targets

KsTU shall consider the following regional zones to be their topmost priority in their internationalization drive based on their mandate as shown in the table below:

The above regional target and partner countries are not exhaustive as the University will also consider other regions and countries not captured in this international strategy based on mutual understanding.

6.0       Contact Details

1.         Institutional Coordinator

            Prof. Dr. Gabriel Dwomoh

            Head:  International Affairs and Institutional Linkages

            Kumasi Technical University

            Email:  gabriel.dwomoh@kstu.edu.gh

            Telephone:  +233200991023

2.         Departmental Coordinator

            Dr. Addo Koranteng

            Kumasi Technical University

            Email:  addo.koranteng@kstu.edu.gh