Automobile Engineering students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology have taken delivery of a Nissan pickup vehicle to boost their training.

The pickup, the first to be assembled in Ghana, was presented by Japan Motors to aid engineering education.

Provost of the College of Engineering, Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah says the donation is crucial for the practical development of the students.

“We realize that we need hands-on training so the student will be able to take apart the engine and reassemble and learn how it works, look at the various parts and know how they function,” he said.

The university has a long-standing partnership with Japan motors for student internship positions.

Executive Director of Japan Motors, Nouhad Kalmoni believes the vehicle will expose the students to the latest technologies available at Japan Motors.

“We wanted to make sure the students that are studying here are having access to the latest vehicle and are up to date with most current technology.

“We want to bring them up to standards so that when they come to our facilities, they’ll be productive and wouldn’t have to go through a long cycle of training,” he is optimistic.

Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson reiterated the University’s commitment to research for the country’s development.

She therefore appealed to Japan Motors to among other things establish a centre of excellence, start-of-the-art laboratory and scholarship scheme for females in the Automobile Engineering programme.

A training or certification centre and research chair in Automobile engineering at the College were also proposed.

“We have the land readily available, if you come today, we’ll give it to you” she urged.