By: Evans Osei-Bonsu
The new Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Christian Agyare, has pledged to reposition KNUST to produce graduates who create employment rather than only seek it.
Speaking at his investiture ceremony on August 1, 2026 at the Great Hall, KNUST, as the 13th Vice-Chancellor at a colourful ceremony chaired by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Chancellor of the University, Professor Agyare said the university’s future must be anchored in innovation, entrepreneurship and practical impact.
“A university that teaches without innovating; research without creating, has only done half its work,” he said. “The vision for KNUST is one where knowledge does not reside in lecture halls, studios and laboratories but walks out of our gates, changes the world and transforms lives!”
He told the gathering of government officials, traditional leaders, academia and students that KNUST will reimagine its curricula and adopt transformative teaching methods to equip students with both academic excellence and commercial sense.
“We will reimagine our curricula. By adopting transformative teaching methods and dual-degree pathways, we can produce graduates who do not simply seek employment but create them. Graduates who are not only academically distinguished, but commercially astute and socially responsive,” Professor Agyare stated.
The Vice-Chancellor described his mission as pursuing eminence in research, innovation, teaching and institutional stewardship through adaptive governance and technology-driven transformation in support of national and global development. He outlined seven strategic priorities to guide KNUST over the next four years, with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and industry collaboration.
He stressed that universities are strategic national assets, referencing how countries like South Korea, China and Singapore invested in higher education to drive prosperity. “The wealth of nations in the twenty-first century will be determined less by what lies beneath their soil and more by the ideas generated within their universities,” he said.
Professor Agyare added that KNUST will deepen ties with industry and alumni, leverage Professors of Practice, and expand business incubators and start-ups to commercialize intellectual property. He also committed to integrating Artificial Intelligence across teaching, research and administration, and to strengthening financial stewardship to reduce overdependence on government subventions.
“The collective goal is to position KNUST as a forward-looking institution of higher learning, that harnesses its intellectual capital, alumni network, and strategic partnerships to drive impactful research, innovation, and transformative teaching,” he said.
Concluding his address, Professor Agyare said every member of the university community has a role in advancing KNUST’s mission. “Together, we will move from excellence to eminence, from promise to impact, and from aspiration to transformation! Together, we shall rise! Together, we shall excel! Together, we shall shape the future with our legacies.”
Prof. Christian Agyare succeeds Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, whose five-year tenure witnessed significant gains in infrastructure, research, digitalisation and the internationalisation of the university. A renowned pharmaceutical scientist, academic and researcher, Professor Agyare brings to the office decades of experience in higher education, research, academic leadership and pharmaceutical sciences, having served in several senior management and administrative roles at KNUST before his appointment.
Source: Purefmonlinegh.com || Evans Osei-Bonsu || 2026
