The SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) has secured a $100,000 grant under the European Union (EU)-funded “EU-Ghana Pact for Skills” initiative, which aims to enhance graduate employability through digital and entrepreneurial skills training.
The SDD-UBIDS was among six public universities in Ghana selected from a competitive national bidding process for the grant awarded under the broader programme of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
A statement signed by Professor Frederick Dayour, the Director of Research at the SDD-UBIDS, and copied the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa, said the grant proposal was developed in collaboration with the innovation accelerator, Noni Hub.
It said the proposal focused on equipping students, particularly females, with market-relevant competencies and skills in the green and digital economy and nurturing entrepreneurial skills to drive job creation.
“The EU-Ghana Pact for Skills initiative targets tertiary students in Ghana’s public universities, aiming to tackle the persistent challenge of graduate unemployment, particularly among women.
This is in response to the growing concern over the mismatch between academic training and industry demands, as well as the limited exposure to entrepreneurial and digital competencies”, the statement explained.
The project aimed to offer intensive training in digital technologies and entrepreneurship to about 500 second-year students of the SDD-UBIDS.
The students would be drawn from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the School of Business, who are pursuing Business Management and Entrepreneurship.
The initiative would strengthen collaboration between the universities and the private sector, improve career guidance and support systems for students, and align academic instruction with the evolving demands of the job market, including digital skills training.
The statement added that the project marked a strategic effort by the university to address the growing gap between academic training and employment readiness.
“With this achievement, SDD-UBIDS reinforces its commitment to bridging the education-employment gap and advancing inclusive, skills-based development for Ghana’s youth”, the statement said.
The project would empower the students with real-world skills and entrepreneurial mindsets that could help them thrive in today’s dynamic economic landscape.
Members of the project team included: Dr. George Nanko Dery, the Project Lead from SDD-UBIDS; Prof. Frederick Dayour, Administrative Head from SDD-UBIDS; Mr Nicolas Tanye, Digital Skills Training Coordinator from SDD-UBIDS; Dr. Sulemana B. Egala, Digital Skills Training Trainer from SDD-UBIDS; and Mr Salihu Mohammed Awal, Digital Skills Trainer/Mentor from Noni Hub.
The rest are: Ms. Rahinatu Haruna, Digital Skills Mentor from Noni Hub; Dr. Felicia Naatu, Career and Employability Services Coordinator and Coach from SDD-UBIDS; Dr. Lea Anzagra, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer from SDD-UBIDS; and Mr. Roger Zolko-Ere, Accountant from SDD-UBIDS.
This grant reflects the growing recognition of SDD-UBIDS as a hub for innovation-driven education and its ongoing commitment to inclusive development and youth empowerment in Ghana.