A delegation from Japan comprising representatives from Nagaoka University of Technology, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana, BOURBON Corporation, and Tachibana International Ghana Co. Ltd. has paid a courtesy visit to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The visit aimed at exploring potential areas of collaboration within the cocoa sector, particularly through the development of innovative technological solutions.
The delegation also used the opportunity to introduce the KOSEN (National Institute of Technology) Innovation Challenge, known as KOI, a unique educational initiative from Japan that blends practical engineering education with real-world problem-solving.
KOI is rooted in the Japanese KOSEN system, where students receive engineering training from as early as 15 years of age and continue through to university level. The curriculum is highly hands-on and designed to prepare students to tackle real-world development challenges.
“This innovation challenge is open exclusively to KOSEN students. It is a hackathon, encouraging students to create innovative solutions to development problems in Africa,” Mai Tomori explained.
“Each year, we select two African countries to collaborate with. This year, our focus is on Ghana and Senegal. After identifying the winners of the KOI, they will travel to Ghana to conduct on-site demonstrations and test their prototypes.”
Dr. Eli Gaveh of the Department of Horticulture, welcomed the initiative noting its alignment with some of the College’s ongoing programmes.
“We have a similar partnership with a university in the Netherlands, where students pitch innovative ideas. The best teams are selected and paired with industry mentors to refine their concepts,” Dr. Gaveh said.
“Our focus goes beyond technological innovation; we emphasize business development as well. We want our students to transition their ideas into sustainable businesses so they’re not overly reliant on the government for employment.
When I reviewed the documents you shared earlier, I saw strong potential for collaboration. Your depth of experience in practical training is something we can learn from, and we are ready to partner with you.”
The meeting featured in-depth discussions on collaborative opportunities in research, education, and technology development, particularly in enhancing the cocoa value chain.
Provost of the College, Prof. Dadson Awunyo-Vitor, expressed optimism about the partnership.
“We are excited about this engagement. Beyond the KOI Innovation Challenge, we are also looking forward to potential student and staff exchange programmes, as well as joint research initiatives. We believe this partnership could be mutually enriching.” Prof. Vitor said.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Laura Attuah, Dr. Michael Kodwo Adjaloo, and Prof. Joseph Oppong Akowuah.
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