Tarkwa (W/R), July 14, GNA-The Governing Board of the Ghana Chamber of Mines Tertiary Education Fund has launched the “Smart Board Technology” for the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT).
The equipment installed, worth GH￠173, 871.62, equivalent to USD 29, 977.87 was to bring UMaT close to its vision of becoming the center of excellence in Africa for the training of world-class professionals.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Stephen Kofi Ndede, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Ghana Chamber of Mines Tertiary Education Fund, said 15 lecturers and information technology officers from the University have been trained on the smart board technology.
Mr Ndede said, “this world-class virtual smart board would give students the opportunity to learn irrespective of their location, stressed that, COVID-19 had taught us how physical presence should not be a hindrance to work and studies”.
The Chairman further said as a mining industry, they had re-adjusted their work programmes to enable non-technical staff to work from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was therefore not out of order when the Governing Board received a request from the University for this technology to be procured to aid virtual teaching and learning, which in turn fits with UMaT’s agenda of enhancing internationalization and visibility,” he explained.
The Chairman pleaded with the management of the University to ensure planned maintenance of the equipment to prolong its life span so that students would attain optimum benefit from it.
The ceremony was also used to present research grants to some faculty members and post-graduate students to help them undertake various inquiries into topics that were relevant to the mining industry.
Three faculty members were awarded with a total of GH￠173, 246 (US D 29, 870) while seven post-graduate students received GH￠170, 359.92 (USD 29, 372.4).
Mr Ndede said the industry supervisors would be assigned to the post-graduate researchers to ensure mutual benefits between industry and academia.
He noted that the Governing Board partnered with the Chamber’s Technical Committee to review all applications received through a very tight and rigorous screening process.
The Chairman said the Chamber was confident that the approved research topics would be carried out in the various mining companies within the Chamber’s membership would help bring improvements, reduce cost and enhance productivity for member companies.
“Being the first recipients of the research grant support under the Fund, the entire University and Chamber have high expectations of you. We are looking forward to see the outcome of your research and how it would impact the mining industry” Mr Ndede indicated.
He implored the beneficiaries to put the funds into judicious use and ensure transparency and accountability.
Professor Anthony Simons, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, thanked the Governing Board of the Ghana Chamber of Mines Tertiary Education Fund for the kindness.
“Giving us this smart board technology will go a long way to help us in teaching and learning. We promise to draw a maintenance schedule for it and make sure it goes through its life span” he said.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor added that, “awards have also been given to researchers. I am optimistic that the beneficiaries would put it to good use to motivate the Chamber to always support UMaT to take its right position”.
The Dean of the School of Post-graduate Studies, Professor Grace Ofori-Sarpong, on her part said with the smart board technology there would not impede anybody who wants to study at UMaT.
She expressed appreciation to the Governing Board for the good work they were doing to promote education in UMaT.
One of the awardees, Mr William Buah on behalf of his colleagues promised to work hard and come out with findings that would help develop the industry further.
GNA