Professor Philip Antwi-Agyei, Provost of the College of Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has called for renewed unity, strategic reforms, and innovation to advance the college’s vision of becoming a global centre of scientific excellence.
Addressing the College faculty and staff, Prof. Antwi-Agyei highlighted the College’s growth and challenges, including a high student–staff ratio, ageing workforce, large class sizes, infrastructure shortfalls, and lessening research funding.
“If we, as a group, decide that we want to do something, nobody can stop us unless God Himself wills it,” he said, stressing the importance of collective action. “Unity is important. When one department is affected, the entire College feels it. We must put the interests of the College above individual concerns.”
The College currently has around 11,000 students and 225 teaching staff, resulting in a staff–student ratio far above the recommended 1:18 for science-based institutions.
While departments such as Computer Science, Biochemistry, and Food Science have maintained high academic standards, Prof. Antwi-Agyei warned that large class sizes and limited staff capacity threaten the quality of education.
To position the College as a centre of excellence, the Provost outlined seven thematic pillars, including human resource development, infrastructure expansion, digitisation, research and innovation, curriculum reform, alumni engagement, and financial sustainability.
He also announced plans to expand teaching facilities with a proposed GHS 50 million ultra-modern learning complex and stressed the importance of practical, hands-on scientific training.
Highlighting research as a key area for growth, Prof. Antwi-Agyei proposed creating a College Grants Support Team, holding annual grant-writing retreats, maintaining a database of funding agencies, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.
He also stressed the importance of ensuring that students gain strong practical and hands-on experience, stating that “science is experiential and we cannot compromise on laboratories, equipment, and field training.”
He further revealed plans to establish the West African Centre for Climate and Health Science and Policy in partnership with KNUST’s College of Health Sciences.
On student development, he called for support for postgraduate education, the promotion of scholarships, and initiatives to foster creativity and innovation.
He also encouraged faculty and staff to contribute ideas, noting that “many brilliant ideas often remain unspoken,’’
“If I fail, the College fails,” he noted. “Our names matter less than the legacy we leave behind as a college. As long as we remain here, we are all College of Science, and we must do everything possible to push it forward.” he said, adding that collective responsibility is critical for achieving the College’s strategic vision.
