The Mastercard Foundation (MCF) Scholars Program at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana is a partnership between KNUST and the Mastercard Foundation (MCF) headquartered in Toronto Canada, to train altogether 2,250 scholars over a 15-year period (750 Scholars in Phase I – 2014-2019 and 1500 Scholars in Phase II – 2019-2029) to contribute significantly to societal change and the transformation of Africa by empowering the youth of the continent.
In the execution of her mandate, the Program further gives priority to Females, Displaced Persons (Certified Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons) and Persons with Disability with the breakdown as follows; 70% females out of the whole 100%, 25% displaced persons (both internally and externally) out of the whole 100%, 10% persons with disabilities out of the whole 100%, 20% international scholars out of the whole 100%.
Our Goal
To raise ethical and transformative leaders who will contribute to societal change and lead the transformation agenda of the African Continent.
To provide access to quality higher education to the academically talented yet economically disadvantaged qualified students in the deprived communities of Africa.
Core Tenets
The Program desires to raise scholars who have
Academic Talents – value learning and have the drive to complete their education;
Commitment to Go-Back and Give-Back – have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities.
Potential to Lead – become role models, mentors, problem solvers; and exhibit ethical and transformative leadership qualities.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a $500 million, 10-year initiative to educate and prepare young people – particularly from Africa – to lead change and make a positive social impact in their communities.
The Scholars Program provides young people from economically disadvantaged communities who have demonstrated academic talent and leadership potential with access to quality and relevant education.
The Program will serve an estimated 15,000 young people at the secondary and university levels. It has a particular focus on Africa, which has the world’s youngest population structure. The continent is experiencing unprecedented economic growth; yet, it faces the lowest secondary and university education enrolment rates in comparison with the rest of the world.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides access to secondary and higher education for young people who are committed to giving back to their communities. It is designed to provide students with holistic support, including the following:
Comprehensive Scholarships
Skills Training
Transition Support
Give-Back Component
Alumni Network
Scholars
Partner institutions will identify and select young men and women from economically disadvantaged communities who have demonstrated the following attributes.
Academic Talent
Commitment to Giving Back
Potential to Lead
e-Learning Initiative
ASU-KNUST 3+1+1 1 INTERNATIONAL ACCELERATED DEGREE PROGRAM (IADP)
In fulfillment of the Foundation’s vision to foster collaboration and learning amongst the Scholars Program partner institutions, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at ASU partnered with KNUST in 2016 to train a cohort of 150 students under a 3+1+1 International Accelerated Degree Program (IADP) funded by the Mastercard Foundation. This is a tri-part partnership between KNUST, ASU and Ashesi University. In this partnership, the beneficiary students will spend three (3) years at KNUST or Ashesi and two (2) years at ASU; at the end, scholars who be conferred with both a BSc. (from KNUST or Ashesi University) and an MSc. (from ASU) in their respective fields. It is hoped that these scholars would be in a position to contribute to societal change and transformation.
As part of this collaboration, Faculty/Staff from both institutions undertake exchange visits to each other’s campus to study best practices as well as discuss new study areas for expansion to strengthen the partnership. Over the years, this faculty exchange has proven beneficial for both ASU and KNUST faculty. Under this partnership, KNUST onboarded a total of 130 scholars and Ashesi University onboarded 20 scholars making up the total 150 scholarships awarded.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology grew out of the Kumasi College of Technology which was established by a Government Ordinance on 6th October, 1951The College was officially opened on 22nd January, 1952 with 200 Teacher Training students transferred from Achimota College in Accra at the coast, to form the nucleus of this new College 250 kilometers up country in the forest belt.In October, 1952, the School of Engineering and the Department of Commerce were established and the first students were admitted. From 1952 to 1955, the School of Engineering prepared students for professional qualifications only. In 1955, the School embarked on courses leading to the University of London Bachelor of Engineering External Degree Examinations.
A Pharmacy Department was established in January, 1953, with the transfer of the former School of Pharmacy from Korle-Bu Hospital, Accra, to the College. The Department ran a two-year comprehensive course in Pharmacy leading to the award of the Pharmacy Board Certificate.
A Department of Agriculture was opened in the same year to provide a number of ad hoc courses of varying duration, from a few terms to three years, for the Ministry of Agriculture. A Department of General Studies was also instituted to prepare students for the Higher School Certificate Examinations (Advance level) in both Science and Arts subjects and to give instruction in such subjects as were requested by the other departments to make successful candidates eligible for degree courses they offer.
Once established, the College began to grow and in 1957, the School of Architecture, Town Planning and Building was inaugurated and its first students were admitted in January, 1958, for professional courses in Architecture, Town Planning and Building Technology. As the College expanded, it was decided to make the Kumasi College of Technology a purely science and technology institution. In pursuit of this policy, the Teacher Training College, with the exception of the Art School (considered as running Technological programs), was transferred in January, 1958, to the Winneba Training College (whose nucleus has become part of the present day University of Education Winneba)., In 1959, the Commerce Department was transferred to Achimota to form the nucleus of the present School of Administration of the University of Ghana, Legon.