KNUST and University of Liberia Explore Food Science Collaboration

The Department of Food Science and Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has hosted a delegation from the University of Liberia and the Liberian Food Safety Initiative in a two-day visit aimed at strengthening food science education and regional academic collaboration.

The visit formed part of a broader educational tour of Ghanaian universities by the Liberian team, focused on learning from established programmes and identifying areas for partnership in teaching, research and capacity building.

The delegation included senior academic and administrative officials led by Prof. Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Liberia, alongside heads of department and experts in nutrition, agriculture and monitoring and evaluation.

During the first day, discussions centred on the development of food science programmes, with the KNUST team led by Head of Department, Prof. Jacob Kwaku Agbenorhevi, presenting the department’s history, academic structure, research activities and international collaborations.

The University of Liberia delegation highlighted its newly established Food Science programme, approved in 2022, noting key challenges such as limited laboratory infrastructure and the need for technical training and practical exposure.

KNUST faculty shared insights into the evolution of their programme since the late 1980s and outlined key academic areas including food chemistry, food processing, microbiology and food engineering.

Both institutions identified several potential areas of collaboration, including faculty training workshops in Liberia, student internships at KNUST, virtual laboratory training, and joint research initiatives to support programme development.

On the second day, the delegation toured key facilities on the KNUST campus, including laboratories, the International Programmes Office, the KNUST Museum and the University Relations Office, gaining practical insight into teaching and research systems.

The visit concluded with a forum where both institutions discussed plans for a formal Memorandum of Understanding to guide future collaboration in teaching, research, staff development and student exchange programmes.

Prof. Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor expressed appreciation for the warm reception and commended KNUST for its strong academic systems and commitment to knowledge sharing across Africa.