CANR study calls for clear e-learning policy to strengthen online education at KNUST

A study conducted by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for the development of a clear e-learning policy to strengthen online teaching and learning at the University.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching and learning at KNUST were largely conducted through traditional face-to-face methods.

Following the pandemic, the University adopted a blended learning approach, with 70 per cent face-to-face instruction and 30 per cent online delivery.

Although KNUST has made significant investments in online teaching and learning with support from external partners, the absence of a clear e-learning policy continues to pose a challenge.

The study, led by Prof. Nana Ewusi Mensah of the Faculty of Agriculture, highlights the need for a structured framework to guide and regulate online teaching and learning across the University.

The study involved interviews with three key institutional e-learning innovators and 73 lecturers from various departments and colleges of KNUST, as well as a focus group discussion with seven Level 400 students.

The findings revealed broad consensus that existing policies and infrastructure do not adequately address the demands of online education.

While lecturers emphasised the need for policies to regulate students’ ethical behaviour in online learning environments, students called for clearer standards to guide teaching and facilitation.

The researchers recommend accelerating the development of KNUST’s e-learning policy and urge national stakeholders, including the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, to spearhead discussions towards a nationwide e-learning framework.

Such a policy, they argue, would strengthen quality assurance, improve student engagement, and enhance the overall effectiveness of online learning in Ghana’s tertiary institutions.