Inspiring the Future: KNUST Dean Encourages Female Students to Pursue Engineering Careers

In a bid to dismantle gender stereotypes and promote diversity in the field of engineering, the Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Kwaku Amaning Adjei, has urged female students to embrace engineering as a viable career choice. The call to action was made during a seminar organized to commemorate World Engineering Day in Kumasi under the theme “Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable World.”

World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2019, serves to highlight global achievements in engineering and emphasizes the central role of engineering and technology in modern life and sustainable development. This year’s event, hosted by KNUST, brought together students from second-cycle institutions, industry players, and academia.

Professor Amaning Adjei emphasized the power engineers hold in shaping the future and improving the quality of life globally. He extended a special invitation to high school students, encouraging those curious about the world, passionate about problem-solving, and drawn to turning ideas into reality to consider engineering.

To female students, he underscored that engineering embraces diversity, citing numerous women practicing and excelling in the field. Addressing the audience, the Director General of the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC), UNESCO Centre of Excellence at KNUST, Professor Francis Davis, outlined initiatives to make engineering more attractive to the younger generation.

Recognizing engineering as the backbone of technological advancement, he expressed a commitment to cultivate the next generation of engineers through collaborative efforts with institutions like the Ghana Institute of Engineering and Premier College of Engineering. The Chief Operating Officer at the Ghana Commission of UNESCO, Mr. Apollonius Asare, stressed the importance of engineers embracing innovation and sustainability.

He highlighted the need for women and girls to play a central role in engineering, emphasizing that they can provide unique solutions to challenges, particularly those affecting women. Despite progress, UNESCO reports that women remain historically underrepresented in engineering, constituting only 20 percent of the engineering workforce.

Efforts to address this disparity face obstacles related to persistent gender stereotypes, inadequate policies, and educational environments that fail to meet the needs and aspirations of female students. The seminar’s discussions aimed to inspire a new generation of engineers, challenge stereotypes, and foster an inclusive environment within the engineering profession.