The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has hosted the 2025 Intelligence for Innovation (IN4IN) Conference under the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) Project, in collaboration with Leipzig University and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The conference, themed “The Role of University–Business Linkages in Bridging Skills for Decent Work for the Global South,” brought together academics, industry leaders and policymakers to discuss strategies for improving employability and promoting sustainable development through closer ties between universities and industry.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Asamoah, stressed the need to align academic training with emerging labour market demands in the context of rapid technological change.

“The demands of digitalisation, and the restructuring of labour markets all require a new approach to skills development; one that values creativity, adaptability, and continuous learning,” he said. “When industry and academia co-create curricula, co-supervise research, and co-develop solutions, learning becomes not just theoretical but transformational.”

He reaffirmed KNUST’s commitment to strengthening partnerships through the Career Services Centre, Innovation and Incubation Hub and ACCESS-Ghana, which support experiential learning and entrepreneurship.

‘‘At KNUST, we continue to reinforce partnerships with industry leaders, professional bodies, and public institutions to ensure that our graduates remain relevant, adaptable, and globally competitive,’’ he said. ‘‘These partnerships have yielded practical outcomes from student internships, industry-led projects and mentorship programmes that empower students and turn their ideas into viable enterprises. We firmly believe that when universities and businesses work hand in hand, we create employers, innovators and problem-solvers.’’