Professors Of Architecture At KNUST, Donate 2,000 Books To Students, University

Professors and Heads of department at the College of Architecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Tuesday morning presented 2,000 copies of special books to students offering architecture.

The books authored and designed by a team of professors at the department is to aid students pursuing architecture in their studies.

At a brief ceremony to open the books that included three new ones such as ‘Theory and Context in Architecture’, ‘Principles of Order and Design in Architecture and Principles of Scamper’ at the College of Architecture, Provost of the Department, Professor John Bugri commended the professors for their effort.

He noted that the best way to impart knowledge apart from teaching was to pen one’s thoughts in a book or in a documentary form.

‘’The best way of imparting knowledge is to back words with action and this is what these Professors have done by coming out with these excellent books to aid teaching and learning at this college’’, he stated.

DEAN OF FACULTY:
On his part, Dean at the Faculty of Built Environment, Professor Samuel Amos Abanyie narrated the importance of the books and commended authors in the Department as well as the faculty for their efforts.

He stressed that nothing was like teaching with books and aids that can easily be followed through by students.

These books, he revealed had been carefully done to reflect the levels and standards of modern architectural education and models.

“I urge students who would be beneficiaries to take particular interest in the books so that they could benefit from the depth of knowledge poured out in the pages of same”, Prof Abanyie noted.

LEAD AUTHOR:
Professor Christian Koranteng, lead author of the books narrated the toils and challenges the teaching staff had gone through over two decades.

He recalled how he had to start as head of the outfit with five computers when he was recruited by KNUST during the tenure of the late Professor Andam, former Vice Chancellor at the University.

With some few contacts and international support, he noted that the department now has modern equipment and teaching aids to support knowledge impartation.

Professor Koranteng particularly commended Nickseth Company and DBS Company Limited for sponsoring the publications of the books for the students, the Department and in extension, the university.

‘’I am excited that my colleagues at this department and faculty decided to support this noble venture and we hope the knowledge displayed in thoughts and examples in the books would be utilized by students offering architecture to enhance themselves’’, Prof Koranteng stated.

Professor Koranteng also revealed the institution of an award scheme to reward students that would come up with innovative and modern designs in architecture from their classes.

APPRECIATION:
Berryl Amartey, President of the Architectural Students Association of Ghana thanked the professors of the department for producing such books to help them in their study.

She commended the sponsors for agreeing to put in money for the publication of the books and for ensuring 2000 of the same were given to them for free.

SPONSOR:
Dr David Nyame-Tawiah, Deputy Manager of DBS Company Limited and an alumnus of the Architectural Department commended the Department and Faculty for the huge intellectual investment they had done by authoring books for students pursuing architecture.

He therefore charged the students to take advantage of the deep knowledge and insights in the books and learn to better themselves in their pursuit for higher education.

STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.