KNUST signs MoU with MTN Ghana to develop AI talent

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MTN Ghana to foster a strategic partnership between industry and academia. The collaboration focuses on developing artificial intelligence (AI) talent and providing students with the practical skills needed to solve local technological challenges. This agreement establishes a framework for students to engage in real-world AI projects and gain professional experience through internships at Ghana's leading telecommunications provider.

As part of the agreement, MTN Ghana will offer scholarships to top-performing graduates from the university's Computer Science department. A significant component of the initiative is its dedicated support for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), aimed at addressing gender disparity within the tech sector. KNUST Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare, stated that the partnership aligns with the university’s mission to build strong industry relationships that enhance the employability of its graduates.

Representing MTN Ghana, Kwame Adu Manu emphasized that the partnership is designed to bridge the existing gap between academic curriculum and the evolving requirements of the technology industry. He noted that by providing students with hands-on training and clear career pathways within the country, the initiative also seeks to combat brain drain. By retaining highly skilled technical talent in Ghana, the collaboration aims to ensure that the nation’s technological advancement is driven by locally trained experts.

The partnership marks a significant step in KNUST’s efforts to modernize its educational approach through direct industry involvement. Both institutions expect the collaboration to produce a new generation of AI-literate professionals capable of innovating across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy. The implementation of the internship programs and scholarship awards is expected to begin in the current academic cycle.