MTN Ghana, KNUST partner to boost local AI research, STEM education and talent development

MTN Ghana has entered into a strategic partnership with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to advance local artificial intelligence (AI) research, strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and nurture the next generation of technology professionals in Ghana.

The partnership, formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), seeks to bridge the gap between academic training and industry requirements while creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience in the rapidly evolving digital technology sector.

The initiative places particular emphasis on developing homegrown AI expertise, promoting collaborative research, and increasing opportunities for women pursuing careers in STEM-related fields.

Under the agreement, MTN Ghana will provide participating KNUST students with access to internship opportunities, industry-led training modules, digital project assignments, and potential graduate recruitment pathways.

These initiatives are expected to equip students with relevant technical skills and practical knowledge to prepare them for the demands of the modern workplace.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kwame Adu Manu, Senior Manager for Digital Analytics and Monetisation at MTN Ghana, underscored the importance of closer collaboration between universities and industry in developing technological solutions that address Ghana's development challenges.

“We want to bridge that gap between industry and academia,” Manu stated.

He further emphasised the need for African countries to develop their own technological capabilities and create solutions tailored to their unique circumstances.

“We want to build solutions for Africa, for ourselves, for Ghana to solve our own problems,” he added.

Through MTN Ghana's Digital Analytics and Monetisation department, students will have opportunities to participate in ongoing AI-related projects and engage with experienced telecommunications professionals through guest lectures and other knowledge-sharing activities.

The practical approach is intended to complement classroom instruction with hands-on experience, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world industry challenges.

Beyond skills development, the partnership also seeks to strengthen Ghana's technological capacity by creating pathways for talented graduates to build their careers locally.

By connecting promising students with industry opportunities, the initiative aims to contribute to talent retention and help address concerns about the loss of skilled professionals to opportunities abroad.

KNUST Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christian Agyare, welcomed the partnership, highlighting its potential to strengthen collaborative research, improve practical teaching, and deepen engagement between academia and industry.

The collaboration also incorporates measures to promote gender inclusion and recognise academic excellence.

As part of the initiative, MTN Ghana will sponsor scholarships for the three top graduating Computer Science students, including a dedicated award for the best-performing female graduate.

The scholarship component is expected to encourage academic achievement while supporting efforts to increase female participation and representation in technology-related disciplines.

To ensure accountability and measure the impact of the initiative, the partnership will be coordinated by MTN Ghana and KNUST's Department of Computer Science through a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework.

The framework will track programme outcomes, assess implementation progress, and provide a basis for continuous improvement in the delivery of the partnership's objectives.

The MTN Ghana-KNUST collaboration reflects the growing importance of industry-academia partnerships in preparing young people for emerging opportunities in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other areas of digital innovation.

As AI continues to reshape industries and economies worldwide, initiatives that combine academic knowledge with practical industry experience could play an important role in developing the skilled workforce Ghana needs to participate more actively in the global digital economy.

Ultimately, the partnership seeks to move beyond conventional classroom learning by creating opportunities for students to contribute to research, develop practical solutions, and build careers in a technology-driven world.