French language multimedia centre inaugurated in UMaT

A French Language Multimedia Centre has been inaugurated at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa.

The inauguration was performed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof J. S. Y. Kuma and the Co-operation Attaché for French at the French Embassy, Madam Julie Fournier-Angelo, assisted by the Technical Advisor in Charge of France-Ghana Higher Education Co-operation, Dr Sonia Couprie.

In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof J. S. Y. Kumaexpressed the gratitude of the University to the French Embassy for the support. He indicated that, in 2011, the University decided to make it a policy for the teaching of the French Language to be incorporated in the curriculum of the University with the aim of giving all UMaT students the benefit of learning the French language before they graduated and that is why according to him, all first year students take the basic French course for two semesters.

Prof Kuma emphasised the importance of the French languagein the University’s curriculum and said that the Multi Media Centre will help UMaT graduates to have a working knowledge in French to enable them to gain employment in companies operating in Francophone countries in the West African Sub-region, especially those that are surrounded by Ghana.

He again reiterated UMaT’s readiness to further develop and promote the teaching of the French Language by increasing the number of hours currently devoted to the course.

Giving a brief background to how the project started, Prof Kuma indicated that, it was in 2013 that he met the former French Ambassador to Ghana, His Excellency Patrick Clavier at the 2ndGhana France Higher Education Conference in Accra where heinvited him to visit UMaT.

The former French Ambassadortogether with Mr Paolo Pais and Madam Ann Marie Coquelin, subsequently visited UMaT on 25th October, 2013.

It was during their discussions that UMaT appealed to the Former Ambassador to help UMaT to acquire a Language Centre for the purpose of teaching and learning of the French Language.

He expressed his happiness for the completion of the project which was carried out through the collaborative efforts of the two institutions and the follow-ups made by Dr Evans Kokoroko, the Head of the French Language Section of the Department of Technical Communication.

Responding, the Co-operation Attaché for French at the French Embassy, Mrs Julie Fournier-Angelo, was delighted that the project has been realised with funding from the French Embassy to the tune of €18,500.00.

She indicated that the project was in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Ghana, and it aims at developing and supporting the teaching of French for professional purposes in technical and scientific universities. 

Mrs Julie Fournier was happy for this commitment to the teaching and learning of French in UMaT. She also assured the University of the Support of the French Embassy to achieve the plans put in place for the Centre.

The Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Management Science (FIMS), Prof Newton Amegbey indicated that the multimedia resource centre will allow engineering students to deepen their knowledge and practice of French.

He thanked the French Embassy for providing the facility which is equipped with 20 desktop computers, earphones, stabilizers, video projector, speakers, laptop computer for the coordinator, computer tables and chairs, one television set, a DVD player and a signboard.

The centre will also be open to university staff and other professionals based in Tarkwa.

Dr Evans Kokroko then took the guests through a demonstration of the promising potentials that the resources and materials made available at the centre were going to provide its users.

Also present at the ceremony were Prof V. A. Temeng, Pro Vice Chancellor, Mr A. K. Doku, Registrar, Prof Patricia B. Mireku-Gyimah, Head of the Department of Technical Communicationand other Officials of the University.