The College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has lauded this year’s graduating female engineering students for their remarkable and unprecedented academic performance at its 49th Congregation in Kumasi.

The students outdid their male counterparts in three disciplines of study, including Civil, Telecom and Mechanical Engineering, with one

Edith Ghunney, a Telecommunications Engineering graduate, being adjudged the overall best graduating student in Engineering.

Professor Samuel Innocent Ampadu, the Provost of the College, addressing the ceremony, said out of the 91 students who graduated with First Class, 14, representing 18 per cent were females, the highest ever in the history of the College.

“This is one of the best performances by female engineering students in recent times, describing the development as encouraging because Engineering in general had been erroneously portrayed as a male –dominated discipline within the Ghanaian context”, he said.

Professor Ampadu indicated that the College had over the years recorded the lowest female enrolment of about 12 per cent in the

University, saying that, the authorities had stepped up efforts to encourage more females to enroll in Engineering programmes.

The Provost affirmed the College’s resolve to become a Centre of Excellence in Engineering Education in the sub-region, and as such intensified efforts to upgrade its facilities.

It is also increasing capacity-building workshops for Faculty members, in addition to rolling out novelty programmes, to reflect the changing trends in Engineering.

He said the recent construction of a petroleum facility, with a state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, and the implementation of the protective clothing programme to mainstream occupational health and safety issues into Engineering education, are all part of the innovative measures.

The strengthening of industrial partnerships for students’ practical work, is also part of the programme designed to help the College achieve its objectives.