Dear colleagues and partners in rural development. I warmly welcome you to our website. And thanks in advance for making time to learn about us. The Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) is the foremost university-based institution that focuses on sustainable rural development and has made positive contributions to the growing reputation of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in rural communities. Established in 1979 as the extension unit of the University, BIRD has developed to become a Center of international repute. With sustainable rural development in mind, BIRD continues to advance in research, transfer of innovations/technologies, and knowledge dissemination which are imperative for dignified livelihood and well-being of rural people. BIRD takes into consideration circularity in addressing the complex and dynamic challenges in rural areas. We discover social innovations by working hand-in-hand with society in building resilience and empowerment in rural communities. BIRD is proud of its positive contribution to rural development in Ghana.
Our vision is to be an institution of excellence in Africa for the promotion of inclusive and sustainable rural development. Our mission is to provide an interface between our great university and rural communities by transferring innovations and other services available at the university to rural areas to promote rural development and enhance the quality of life of people in rural areas. Both our vision and the mission are anchored in the values, which have become an inseparable part of our everyday lives at the Center. These core values include: 1) leadership in innovation and technology – striving to generate and exchange innovative knowledge and technology with government, industry, and society; 2) culture of excellence – working hard to be the best and maintaining a commitment to continuously improve upon our status in all our undertakings; 3) diversity and equal opportunity for all – ensuring an environment of understanding and respect for cultural diversity and equal opportunity among students and staff. 4) investment in rural prosperity – believing that rural communities are endowed with abundant resources and have a rich heritage we can leverage to navigate the challenges and opportunities they face to achieve a prosperous future; and 5) preservation of environmental integrity – creating a balance between the well-being of humans and other living beings in the rural environment.
BIRD researchers are committed to our aspiration in finding the solutions for sustainable living in rural areas and to increase the resilience of societies through leading-edge and action research. BIRD renders services to several clients, including national and international organizations. BIRD has worked with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in all sixteen regions of Ghana. Also, partnership and teaming, close collaboration with our academic and industrial partners, and the exchange of skills and ideas are prerequisites for further growth of the Centre. We believe that partnership is key to attaining a common goal and shared success. We welcome strategic alliances with stakeholders from the industry, government agencies, funders, societies and academia to further strengthen the interlinkages and interdependencies in our endeavour toward rural sustainability.
I want to end by thanking all those who continue to make the Bureau a vibrant and exciting endeavour, including team members who make and shape the Center. Our sincere thanks and appreciation go to the Vice Chancellor who has been very supportive of our transformational efforts. We also salute the Provost, Deans, HoDs and colleagues from the college who supported us to steer a steady ship through the last academic year; our research assistants and students, who probably teach us as much as we teach them; our funders, partners, and collaborators who support our work and work with us for better rural communities.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this foreword and now feel encouraged to engage with us, either through our educational and community engagement programmes, research activities or our future events.
- Dr. (Mrs.) Monica Addison
BIRD Director