In a groundbreaking move aimed at revolutionizing the educational landscape, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has inaugurated Ghana’s inaugural virtual reality studios, heralding a new era of immersive learning experiences. The establishment of these state-of-the-art facilities aligns with KNUST’s Vice-Chancellor’s ambitious digitization agenda, geared towards harnessing cutting-edge e-learning technologies to enhance teaching and learning methodologies across the university.
At the unveiling ceremony, Director of the E-Learning Center, Prof. Eric Asante Appau, underscored the transformative potential of the virtual reality studios, emphasizing their role in enhancing student engagement and retention rates through captivating educational experiences. “The incorporation of visual reality into our educational system will offer us diverse advantages.
This innovative way of learning will improve retention rates by offering engaging and memorable educational opportunities,” Prof. Appau remarked, highlighting the importance of preparing students for the dynamic digital landscape they will encounter post-graduation. Encouraging students and faculty to fully utilize the new facilities, Prof. Appau emphasized the limitless possibilities afforded by virtual reality technology, from simulating scientific experiments to embarking on virtual field expeditions.
The virtual reality studios, equipped with ideation rooms to foster creativity and collaboration, have been met with enthusiasm from various academic disciplines. The provost of the College of Science, Professor Leonard Kofitse Amekudzi, hailed the studios as invaluable tools for visualizing complex scientific concepts, while emphasizing their potential to create immersive learning environments for students.
The inclusivity of the virtual reality studios was also emphasized, with the provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Charles Ofosu Marfo, highlighting their benefits for students with disabilities. “This is a noble benefit to all students, especially students with disabilities,” Prof. Marfo remarked, noting that the studios provide accessibility to educational experiences that were previously challenging to access.
In her address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson called for continued support for the initiative, expressing aspirations to expand the studios’ capacity to accommodate more students. “We are starting with 11 devices, and we want to get to 50 or even more.
What that means is that we are going to need a lot of support,” Prof. Dickson appealed, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to ensure KNUST graduates remain globally competitive. The unveiling of Ghana’s first virtual reality studios underscores KNUST’s commitment to pioneering innovative educational practices and equipping students with the skills needed for success in the digital age.