Kumasi: The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has opened the 2025 International Ideas Summer School and Trainer of Trainers Workshop with participants drawn from Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Rwanda, Kenya, and Germany. The event is themed: 'Decent Work and Economic Growth: Exploring Solutions to Youth Unemployment, Skill Gaps, and SME Formalisation in the Global South.'
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, organized by the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS-Ghana), brings together over 80 in-person participants and more than 500 virtual attendees from across Africa and Europe. Prof. David Asamoah, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, in his opening address, welcomed participants to the campus and commended ACCESS-Ghana for spearheading initiatives that connect academia with industry to promote employability and entrepreneurship.
Prof. Asamoah stated that university education must extend beyond awarding degrees to equip learners with competencies, mindset, and adaptability required for the world of work and the creation of work. He emphasized that the theme of the summer school reflects global concerns over high youth unemployment, widening skill gaps, and the dominance of informal enterprises in the Global South.
Prof. Asamoah highlighted that Africa is home to the world's youngest population, with millions of young graduates encountering a labour market that is saturated, informal, or unprepared to absorb their talents. He lauded the ACCESS project, coordinated by Leipzig University in Germany and funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under the Exceed Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The project operates in seven African universities to enhance employability through research, digital skills development, entrepreneurship training, and career support. Prof. Asamoah described the summer school as a 'living laboratory of ideas' inspiring collaborative solutions to bridge the gap between skills and employment, emphasizing that this challenge requires a collective effort from education, industry, and communities.
The event features keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focusing on employable skill sets, productivity, SME formalisation, and decent work conditions, all linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8. Experts from academia, industry, government, and international organisations are expected to share insights on sustainable job creation and inclusive growth.
Dr. Ralph Nyadu-Addo, the Coordinator of ACCESS-Ghana, stated that the initiative provides a platform for young scholars, researchers, and professionals to develop innovative solutions for employability and entrepreneurship. The programme will climax with the IN4IN International Conference on November 11, 2025, bringing together additional participants and partners to further discussions on innovation and inclusion in Africa's labour market transformation.
Mr. Robert Meyer, a Representative of Leipzig University, explained that the aim of ACCESS is to improve the employability of graduates from African universities by working on ideas shared by young participants and encouraging them to develop these ideas into project proposals.