Resource persons at the programme.
As part of efforts to equip the youth to become entrepreneurs, Coventry University, a public research university based in England in partnership with the Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) and African Institute for Transformational Entrepreneurship (AITE), have held an entrepreneurship and employability masterclass for students in Accra.
The initiative afforded the opportunity for students to interact and share ideas with alumni of Coventry University and other speakers from the British Council and Coventry University.
Participants were taken through topics including knowledge in field of study ethics and integrity, problem solving, critical thinking, ability to work in a culturally diverse environment and work experience.
In all, 63 people attended the masterclass programme to share business ideas and individual characteristics of entrepreneurship among others.
Speaking to the media after the event, Mr Simon Hill, lecturer in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Coventry University said, it was vital for students to take up courses at the University that would make them entrepreneurs in future.
“It is also important for students to also acquire skills that would make them standout even if they work under somebody,” he said.
That he said, would ensure job security for the youth especially those who would be coming out of the universities adding that employers value people with special skills.
“Employees must be able to stand on their own and use their skills to impact on the environment within which they work which makes them very unique to the job market,” he stressed.
Mr Hill presented insights into innovation, knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, leadership, socio-economic development, and policy formulation.
Mr Gideon Brefo, a representative from the British Council Ghana said, the educational system in the country should be improved to focus more on entrepreneurship.
“That would solve the issue of graduate unemployment in the country as students would leave school equipped to open up businesses,” he stated.
He highlighted on the qualities employers’ value in graduates including knowledge in the field of study, ethics and integrity, problem solving, critical thinking, ability to work in a culturally diverse environment and work experience.
As a successful entrepreneur, Mr Brefo also shared his entrepreneurship experience with participants.
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President of GTUC and a senior member of Staff at Coventry University, Dr Osei Kofi Darkwa said the collaboration between the two institutions to organise the event would go a long way to help in producing employable graduates.
“GTUC has been in a collaborative partnership since 2010 with Coventry University and has since offered high standard Master’s programmes,” he stated.
He was hopeful that more of such programmes would be organised in future with an increased number of people participating.
By Michael D. Abayateye
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