Educating Ghana's Future Water Leaders
Written by Nemanja Trifunovic, on 22 January 2014
Ghana's water sector faces a number of challenges ranging from limited access to sanitation through to high water losses and low water pressure, and whilst progress over the last decade has been made, there are a number of challenges that threaten to unravel some of these achievements. The impact of population growth, urbanisation, industrial pollution and climate change are ever present obstacles facing Ghana.
One initiative that has sought to directly address Ghana's water challenges has been the capacity development partnership undertaken between UNESCO-IHE and Ghana's second largest university - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). This partnership was developed with a focus on education as a means of improving Ghana's ability to manage its own water challenges and ability to plan for its future.Formally established in 1996, the partnership was funded by the Netherlands government through its agency NUFFIC. Total investment from the period of 1996-2009 was Euro 3.5 million, which was provided by the NUFFIC -SAIL and NPT programmes and covered the development of MSc curriculum for two masters programs, staff training and infrastructure developments in the form of refurbishment of facilities and student accommodation.
The key element of the programme involved the delivery of two specialised masters programs; masters of water supply and environmental engineering and a masters of water resources engineering and management, both of which were run through the department of civil engineering (DCE). The introduction of the masters programs was met with much enthusiasm and to date over 200 students have graduated in either of the MSc courses on offer. After their studies these graduates have continued to share their knowledge and expertise either through local universities or through local projects within private or public companies inside Ghana, further highlighting the positive local impact that is being made.
Whilst the investment has been significant having a local approach to educational investment is seen as the cost effective approach, the cost ratio per graduate was less than half of what it would be to get 200 graduates through a Master's program if they were financed through a host country such as the Netherlands. This approach of developing capacity in local universities also has the benefit of empowering local institutions in countries such as Ghana to enable them become self sufficient in solving their own challenges. Furthermore this joint collaboration has allowed KNUST to participate as a leading contributor in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WATSAN) education and research in Ghana and the region of West-Africa.
Regional centre of expertise and knowledge
The growing reputation of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on a regional level has led many students from neighbouring countries in Africa to enrol in courses within KNUST-DCE. Students from countries such as Benin, Togo, Nigeria and Rwanda have participated in the MSc programs, while students from Zimbabwe and Tanzania enrolled in the short courses that were offered.
KNUST, being one of Ghana's most prominent Universities has an ever growing student enrolment which now stands at over 30,000 students. UNESCO-IHE Associate Professor of Water Supply Engineering, Nemanja Trifunovic has been encouraged about what KNUST has achieved so far. Dr Trifunovic states that "it is pleasing to see all the progress the Department of Civil Engineering has made since the courses were first delivered". "Talented students are graduating from these courses and imparting their skills through impactful projects and programs."
In 2003 KNUST also joined the partnership of water education and research (PoWER), which acts as a global coalition of 50 institutional knowledge centres with the mission of building capacity for the sustainable management of water and environmental resources and delivery of water and sanitation services. KNUST through this partnership works on the shared vision of building capacity for the sustainable management of water and environmental resources in order to improve the quality of life and the environment for people living in developing countries and countries in transition.
Through its successful maters programs, institutions such as KNUST have contributed greatly in helping local and regional students develop the skills necessary to dedicate their knowledge to improve water supply and sanitation access for its whole population. Whilst there have been great achievements to date, it is important that momentum is maintained. Ghana needs to continue to establish itself as regional centre of expertise that can act as a motivational force for its neighbouring countries to aspire towards as well.
Sources
[1] http://water.org/country/ghana/, retrieved on 18 January, 2014