KNUST Trains Staff on Wikipedia Editing and Copyright for Digital Knowledge Preservation

The University Relations Office (URO) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organised a Wikipedia and copyright training workshop for its staff, aimed at strengthening institutional data integrity, digital knowledge management, and heritage preservation.

The workshop, facilitated by educator and climate advocate Mr. Maxwell Beganim, focused on responsible content creation and editing on Wikipedia, while providing practical guidance on copyright, licensing, and the ethical use of digital and archival materials.

Participants were introduced to Wikipedia as a global, open, non-commercial online encyclopaedia that allows users to contribute content, provided entries meet established standards of notability, verifiability, and neutral point of view.

“Wikipedia is a platform where, once you log in, you have the opportunity to contribute knowledge that is accessible to a global audience,” Mr. Beganim explained, noting that the platform is available in over 300 languages worldwide.

The facilitator also highlighted the role of the Wikimedia Foundation, describing it as a global movement committed to providing free educational content. Projects under the foundation’s umbrella, including Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Wikidata, Wikinews, Wikiquote, and Wikimedia Incubator, were discussed, with emphasis on their support through donor funding.

A key aspect of the training focused on copyright and intellectual property. Participants received guidance on the proper use of images, text, and institutional records, including applying Creative Commons licences, with attention on avoiding infringement and ensuring compliance when publishing content on open platforms.

The Head of the Media and Events Section at the University Relations Office, Mr. Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah, emphasised the importance of the initiative.

“Wikipedia has become a primary reference point for students, researchers, and the general public. It’s therefore important that institutional information about KNUST—our history, leadership, research outputs, and milestones—is accurate, verifiable, and shared in full compliance with copyright and licensing requirements,” Mr. Debrah said.

He added, “This initiative strengthens our capacity to ensure that our institutional heritage is responsibly documented and preserved in the digital space.”

The workshop concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session and a hands-on practical exercise, during which participants were guided on editing Wikipedia articles and applying proper copyright and licensing principles.

This training is expected to enhance KNUST’s efforts in safeguarding its institutional knowledge and promoting accurate, ethical representation of the University’s history and achievements online.