KNUST evolves strategic corporate plan

Kumasi, April 8, GNA-The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has launched a Corporate Strategic Plan, dubbed "2K14", designed to facilitate the application of science and technology to enhance the pace of developing the national economy and various human endeavours.

The 10-year plan, which will require 131 million dollars for implementation, has major components such as human resource development, financial resource mobilisation and management, training, research, expansion and application of Information Communication Technology and physical infrastructural development.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Marfo, Minister of Education and Sports, who launched the plan, stressed the relevance of all standard university education to encourage such innovations, adding, "These are the crucial strategic issues that are shaping the destinies of universities the world over, for which reason universities are constantly having to reinvent themselves and their visions, to make them relevant".

He said drawing up of strategic plans was imperative for universities in particular, since government funding for them the world over has now become less predictable.

The Minister said such plans do not only map out the vision, mission and focus of the universities, but also helps them to generate additional funds and protect their independence.

"Charting their own course through strategic plans also help universities and their activities to become more relevant in the global market place," He said.

Professor Kwesi Andam, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, gave the assurance that unlike other research works and programmes, the plan would not be allowed to gather dusts on the shelves. He said provosts of the various colleges of KNUST have been charged to complete their local plans to be part of the overall strategic corporate plan, with indication of opportunities to be explored to ensure smooth implementation.

Professor Andam said as part of a comprehensive mechanism to ensure that the plan was implemented to the letter, a Strategic Plan Implementation Oversight Committee had been instituted. Nana Otuo Siriboe, Chairman, KNUST Council, said the 21st century had come with a lot of challenges and very serious corporate entities, which need to survive, must strategically reposition themselves.