The Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has congratulated the Accra Institute of Technology (AIT), for its innovativeness in introducing the Science, Technology and Innovation Expo (STI Expo) – an annual event organized for students of the institute to showcase their final year projects to the public. The 2019 edition of the event took place last Saturday at the school’s Knowledge City Campus at Kokomlemle in Accra.
AIT STI Expo is an annual showcase of student research and innovation. The day-long program featured presentations on current research from final year students drawn from the fields of Engineering, Information Technology and Business on advancements and innovations; student pitch and project plan competitions, which confer invaluable experience about the startup process to teams of graduating seniors; and an afternoon exhibition of Senior Design Projects, the capstone of the AIT undergraduate experience
The event is organized in partnership with Industry and Commerce. The exhibits are the output of the research projects of the students of the various schools of the university namely: Advanced School of Systems and Data Studies (ASSDAS), School of Advanced Technologies and Engineering Sciences (SATES) and AIT Business School (ABS).
In a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dr. John Hawkins-Asiedu, Mr Kyerematen also urged the Faculty Members, Students and Individuals of the AIT to prioritize the commercialization of their research findings as it will aid the Ghanaian business community to pick and develop products from them on commercial bases for economic development and prosperity.
He noted among others that the process of globalization and liberalization, has made the integration of science and technology in the operation of businesses an imperative, and that, modern Science, Technology and Innovation have altered the pace of international trade and economic development and has therefore become the focus of all countries.
“This has made it possible for emerging nations of today to telescope into the future of economic and social development. It has indeed become the primary engine of growth and provides the key to unlocking any country’s potential through wealth creation, improvement of the quality of life, real economic growth, and transformation in any society,” the Minister stated.
The event was chaired by the Associate Dean of Innovations and Industrial Partnerships – Professor Benjamin Aggrey Ntim. Others in attendance include members of faculty, staff and students of AIT; industry players; student delegates from selected schools and institutions, like Achimota School, St. Thomas Aquinas, Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), and the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research, as well as some members of the AIT alumni.
Professor Benjamin Aggrey Ntim, remarked that with the rapid pace of growth and advancement in technological knowledge and expertise, there is the need to place emphasis on the practical aspects of education with the view to bridging the gap between industry and academia.
“The curricula of AIT do not only include regular classroom teaching and online learning activities but also incorporate site visits to various industries, hydropower plants, rural communities where students observe, learn and try to solve their existing problems. The students are also placed in various industries for training on the job before they qualify to receive their graduation certificates,” he stated.
Among projects exhibited at the programme are Portable DC refrigerator using a thermoelectric cooler; Automatic door lock-to-activate control switch using conventional device; Blacklisted reckless driver’s verification system; Coin based water dispensing machine; An Android Application for Vehicle Maintenance (E-Mechanic); Electronic Registration With Biometric Data; The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Ghana’s Banking Sector (A Case Study Of UT Bank and Societe General) among other creative innovations.
The inspection of the various projects by a team of judges and all participants in attendance culminated in the declaration of the results of the competition and the presentation of awards.
The AIT is a leading technology-focus private University; ranked among the top private universities in Ghana by the Ghana Tertiary Awards. It aspires to be a cradle of excellence in science, technology, and innovation.
The University trains the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators to forge their dreams and new ideas into products and services that address societal challenges and make a real difference. Entrepreneurial experiences are woven throughout AIT’s unique curriculum, providing skills in design, teamwork, project management and business in partnership with leading industry and government collaborators.
Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh