Starting in the upcoming academic year [2025/2026], all students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) will be required to complete a one-credit course in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, stated that this initiative is part of the new national AI strategy as well as the university’s own AI strategy, which has already received approval from the academic board and the Governing Council for implementation.
Beginning next academic year, every student will be required to take a micro-credential course in AI, which will be offered through the university’s e-learning platform. Both students and staff who complete the course will receive certification to enhance their global competitiveness, she announced.
Professor Dickson shared this information during her address at the opening of the 11th KNUST Summer School on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The three-day event is themed: “Artificial Intelligence in Education.”
The KNUST Summer School has steadily evolved into one of the university’s premier professional development programs. Since its inception in 2011, when only 250 senior members participated in the inaugural edition titled “Equipping Staff for Leading Change in Academia,” the Summer School has significantly expanded in both its scope and participation.
She mentioned that staff members who wish to enroll to enhance KNUST’s credentials would be permitted to do so, stating, “Students, in particular, can choose to take the course in their first or second years, or at any other time before graduation.”
She emphasized that staff members interested in enrolling to bolster KNUST’s academic standing would also be allowed, remarking, “We cannot remain static; our pedagogical framework must evolve to align with emerging developments.”
She indicated that the university’s management would continue collaborating with all relevant stakeholders, including the government, to fully harness the benefits of AI and to propel the nation’s advancement.
“It is imperative that we acquire the skills to utilize AI tools and their associated technologies; however, we must remain mindful of the ethical considerations that accompany their application. We should employ these tools responsibly to foster the growth and development of our nation,” she stated.
