The fourth edition of the annual higher education fair organised by the Canadian High Commission in Ghana, will, for the first time be organised Kumasi. Accra will also host one according to the organisers. The Kumasi edition of the fair comes off on 2nd February, 2012 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Kumasi Polytechnic has received an early invitation from the High Commission of Canada in Accra.

Ms Anita Andrews, a Trade Assistant at the Trade and Investment Section of the high commission who invited the Polytechnic to the fair, when she paid a familiarisation visit to the Kumasi Polytechnic advised K-Poly staff and students who are desirous of furthering their studies abroad to consider Canadian schools.

“Compared to American and British higher education, Canadian universities are cheaper while at the same time there is a very high employability rate for Canadian graduates,” she said. The Ashanti Region, according to her, is gradually becoming a very important market for higher education in Ghana and it was therefore important to have the fair in Kumasi to cater for the region in particular and the northern sector of the country as a whole.

Ms Andrews said in all, 20 Canadian universities have confirmed their participation in the fair, which is intended to sell Canadian education to Ghanaian students. She advised the management of the polytechnic to consider entering into collaborations with some of the Canadian universities that will be participating in the fair. “Invite some of the universities onto your campus to explore areas where you can collaborate with them; it can work to your mutual benefit,” said Ms. Williams.

The Rector of K-Poly, Professor Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah, who welcomed Ms Williams said the Kumasi Polytechnic was already collaborating with some Canadian universities which culminated in the institution receiving two visiting professors from the St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and McGill University, earlier this year.

Professor Nsowah-Nuamah said the polytechnic will oblige the advice of Ms Williams because the school will always take advantage of every opportunity that will bring benefits to students and staff of Kumasi Polytechnic. He said the polytechnic was fast expanding and would introduce new courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels to serve Ghanaians who aspire to attain high academic and technical knowledge and qualifications.

In the picture is Ms. Andrews (left) with the Rector of K-Poly - Prof. Nicholas Nsowah-Nuamah (middle) and Dr. Patricia Owusu-Darko, Director of International Relations - K-Poly (right).