Darmstadt University Delegation Visits KNUST E-Learning Centre to Strengthen Partnership
To strengthen their long-standing partnership, a delegation from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in Germany visited the KNUST E-Learning Centre.
The delegation, which included Annabelle Bijelic, Director of the International Office at Darmstadt University, and Ina Schnakenberg, who manages global partnerships and exchanges, was joined by Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Senior Assistant Registrar at the KNUST International Programmes Office.
The visit is to collaborate in e-learning and explore opportunities for co-developing online content.
Professor Eric Appau Asante, Director of the KNUST E-Learning Centre, mentioned “Our strategy here is to continuously build connections, and it’s great to finally host you here in Ghana. Although we’ve had exchanges before, this visit is a new chapter in our partnership,” he said.
The collaboration between the two institutions, which began with the Social Work Department at Darmstadt University, has proven successful over the years.
However, both Annabelle and Ina expressed their eagerness to expand their cooperation, particularly in digital learning.
“We’ve been offering online courses since the pandemic began, and while we have made progress , we don’t yet offer complete online degree programs. We’re here to learn from KNUST, as you’ve made impressive progress in developing e-learning strategies and infrastructure, ” Annabelle explained.
Ina added, “Our goal is to see how we can support each other and further develop joint online programs. The pandemic accelerated the need for online learning, and now we want to ensure we’re taking a more structured and professional approach to digital education.”
Professor Asante shared examples of how KNUST has embraced digital learning and made use of e-learning platforms.
“E-learning at KNUST is important , and it’s embedded into our overall strategy for teaching and learning. Our E-Learning Centre supports the entire university community, which consists of several colleges and institutions both in Ghana and beyond,” he said.
The E-Learning Centre, which is part of the Vice Chancellor’s office, provides technical and instructional support to faculty members and students.
This includes content creation, instructional design, and technical support for online classes.
“We have a team of experts in instructional design who work with faculty to create content for online learning.This is especially important as we transition courses that were previously taught in person to digital platforms,”
Abigail Dzama Anderson, Senior Assistant Registrar at the KNUST E-Learning Centre, explained. “We’ve also implemented a service support desk and technical support to ensure that lecturers and students can fully engage in online learning.”
Mrs. Baiden mentioned the importance of this collaboration between Darmstadt University and KNUST, saying that both institutions could benefit from knowledge exchange and co-creation of educational content.
“The beauty of this partnership is that we are building relationships for today and for the future of education in both our countries. When we develop joint programs, we can create opportunities for our students to learn from each other’s cultures, while also benefiting from educational resources.”
The discussion also touched on the challenges both institutions have faced in adapting to digital learning.
“At Darmstadt, we had to quickly shift from traditional in-person lectures to online classes during the pandemic. It was a bit of a scramble at first, but we’ve learned a lot and are now focused on improving the quality of our digital offerings,” Annabelle mentioned.
Ina added saying that despite these challenges, they are committed to moving forward with educational strategies. “One thing we’ve learned is the importance of flexibility. We focus on making sure that the technology works and make sure that the teaching methods align with the digital tools we’re using.”
Professor Asante also added that KNUST has worked hard to integrate technology into all aspects of learning.
“We’ve seen that online learning is about moving classes to the internet and creating an immersive experience for our students. We’ve incorporated virtual reality and immersive technologies into our programs, and we’re now looking to further,” he said.
Annabelle and Ina were particularly interested in KNUST’s strategy for training faculty members in the use of e-learning tools.
Professor Asante shared that KNUST E-Learning Centre runs a program to ensure that lecturers are equipped with the skills they need for online teaching.
“We offer training workshops, and we’ve even implemented an awards system to motivate faculty members who excel in online teaching,” he explained.
This approach has helped KNUST overcome resistance from some lecturers who were initially reluctant to embrace digital learning.
“We understand that moving to online teaching requires a shift in mindset and additional effort from our faculty. But by providing support and incentives, we’ve been able to make progress,”
Ina was impressed by the structures in place at KNUST and expressed interest in exploring how both institutions could collaborate on faculty development.
“I think there’s a lot we can learn from your experience, particularly in terms of motivating faculty to embrace digital teaching methods,” she said. Both universities also discussed the future of online examinations.
KNUST has been gradually scaling its online examination system, with first-year students in certain courses now writing their exams online.
“We’re looking at how we can improve the security and accessibility of online exams while maintaining high standards of assessment,” Professor Asante said.
The possibility of developing virtual mobility programs was also explored.
Professor Asante suggested that the two institutions could co-create online content, allowing students and faculty to engage with each other virtually without the need for physical travel.
“We’ve had physical mobility programs before, but there’s huge potential for virtual exchange programs that can complement our in-person interactions,” he said.
The team toured the E-learning Centre after the meeting.
Published: 6th February,2025 Source: KNUST E-Learning Centre