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# Access: AFRICAN CENTRE FOR CAREER ENHANCEMENT & SKILLS SUPPORT

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://access-centre.org/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Call for Applications: ACCESS 2.0 Alumni Workshop Ghana 2026](https://access-centre.org/call-for-applications-access-2-0-alumni-workshop-ghana-2026/): The ACCESS 2.0 Alumni Programme invites former ACCESS participants to apply for a unique three-day collaborative workshop focused on developing fundable project concepts in graduate employability and higher education innovation.
- [Call for Applications: ACCESS Nigeria Research Summer School 2026](https://access-centre.org/call-for-applications-access-nigeria-research-summer-school-2026/): ACCESS is pleased to announce the Call for Applications for the ACCESS Nigeria Research Summer School (ANRSS 2026), scheduled to take place from 20–29 September 2026 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
- [ACCESS receives KNUST delegation from Ghana](https://access-centre.org/access-receives-knust-delegation-from-ghana/): ACCESS at Leipzig University recently had the pleasure of welcoming a distinguished delegation from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana.
- [ACCESS Engages in Webinar on Strengthening Graduate Pathways in Africa at Walter Sisulu University](https://access-centre.org/access-engages-in-webinar-on-strengthening-graduate-pathways-in-africa-at-walter-sisulu-university/): ACCESS was presented in a recent webinar on 16 April 2026, organised by the Faculty of Management and Public Administration at the Walter Sisulu University in South Africa. The webinar, which brought together about 20 academics, project leaders, and institutional partners, contributed to an engaging discussion on strengthening graduate pathways and employability across African higher education. The webinar provided an opportunity to share the objectives and impact of the ACCESS initiatives with universities and stakeholders outside the partner countries.
- [Call for Applications: AGEA Start-up Lab 2026](https://access-centre.org/call-for-applications-agea-start-up-lab-2026/): Are you working on a start-up or spin-off project with the potential to solve real-world challenges? Whether you are a researcher, lecturer, postgraduate student, or recent graduate, this is an opportunity to transform your innovation into a thriving business venture.
- [Rector Obergfell Strengthens Partnership with ACCESS Partner Institution KNUST](https://access-centre.org/rector-obergfell-strengthens-partnership-with-access-partner-institution-knust/): Rector Prof. Dr. Eva Inés Obergfell of Leipzig University visited Ghana from March 21st  to 27th, 2026, as part of a delegation of German university leaders. The visit, organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), provided valuable insights into Ghana’s higher education and research landscape and highlighted new opportunities for collaboration.
- [ACCESS is proud to announce the successful doctoral thesis defense of Dolly Damaris Mavuta, MBA](https://access-centre.org/access-is-proud-to-announce-the-successful-doctoral-thesis-defense-of-dolly-damaris-mavuta-mba/): ACCESS is proud to announce the successful defense of one of our ACCESS PhD candidates.
- [ACCESS Postdoc 2025 Experience: Dr. Ugochukwu Chinonso Okolie at Leipzig University](https://access-centre.org/access-postdoc-2025-experience-dr-ugochukwu-chinonso-okolie-at-leipzig-university/): Dr. Ugochukwu Chinonso Okolie, ACCESS Postdoctoral 2025 Fellow, reflects on his experience at the Leipzig University.
- [New Publications from the ACCESS Network](https://access-centre.org/new-publications-from-the-access-network/): Book chapter: Resilience of Disabled Entrepreneurs in Ghana’s Informal Sector
- [ACCESS Organizes the 2025 IN4IN Conference at KNUST to Strengthen Academia–Industry Partnerships for Decent Work](https://access-centre.org/access-organises-the-2025-in4in-conference-at-knust-to-strengthen-academia-industry-partnerships-for-decent-work/): 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).
- [Leipzig University And KNUST Deepen Academic Collaboration](https://access-centre.org/leipzig-university-and-knust-deepen-academic-collaboration/): Leipzig University in Germany has reaffirmed plans to expand its academic partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, with discussions focusing on widening collaboration beyond Publishing Studies and Business programmes to include Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Biosciences.
- [ACCESS Organizes the International IDEAS Summer School on “Decent Work” at KNUST](https://access-centre.org/access-launches-the-international-ideas-summer-school-on-decent-work-at-knust/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support (ACCESS) at Leipzig University joined the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to open the 2025 International Ideas Summer School and Trainer of Trainers Workshop, with participants drawn from Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Rwanda, Kenya, and Germany. The event was held under the theme, “Decent Work and Economic Growth: Exploring Solutions to Youth Unemployment, Skill Gaps, and SME Formalisation in the Global South.”
- [Dr. Ralph Nyadu-Addo Receives Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany](https://access-centre.org/dr-ralph-nyadu-addo-receives-order-of-merit-of-the-federal-republic-of-germany/): The long-standing collaboration between Leipzig University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, has received exceptional recognition: Dr. Ralph Nyadu-Addo, Senior Lecturer at KNUST’s Department of Publishing Studies, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier.
- [AGEA Start-up Update: WaxFarm (Ghana) Wins Two Awards for Green Innovation](https://access-centre.org/agea-start-up-update-waxfarm-ghana-wins-two-awards-for-green-innovation/): One of the start-ups being nurtured through the AGEA Start-up Class 2025, WaxFarm, has achieved a key milestone by winning two major awards in recent days.
- [ACCESS Postdoc 2025 Highlight: Dr. Phyllis Swanzy-Krah at Leipzig University](https://access-centre.org/access-postdoc-2025-highlight-dr-phyllis-swanzy-krah-at-leipzig-university/): Between May and October 2025, Leipzig University’s SEPT Competence Centre hosted Dr. Phyllis Swanzy-Krah from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, as one of three postdoctoral researchers selected under the ACCESS 2.0 Postdoc Programme.
- [Call for Applications: ACCESS Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026](https://access-centre.org/call-for-applications-access-postdoctoral-fellowships-2026/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support (ACCESS) at Leipzig University is inviting applications for the 2026 Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. The scheme offers four fellowships for early-career researchers from Africa to develop their expertise in employability research. Fellows will spend six months in Leipzig, gaining research and teaching experience, receiving mentoring, and joining the vibrant ACCESS and Leipzig University academic community.
- [Promoting African University Start-up Projects: AGEA Start-up Class 2025 held in Leipzig](https://access-centre.org/promoting-african-university-start-up-projects-agea-start-up-class-2025-successfully-held-in-leipzig/): The AGEA Start-up Class, an initiative to support African start-up projects from universities to develop innovative business models to make them market and investment-ready, was held in Leipzig from 03 – 13 September 2025. Seven (7) start-up projects with a group of 12 young innovators consisting of students and researchers from 5 African universities from 4 African countries (Kenya, Ghana, Benin, and Rwanda) were hosted at the SEPT Competence Center in Leipzig for the 10-day training programme. For 10 days, these aspiring entrepreneurs immersed themselves in an environment of learning, coaching, and cross-cultural exchange that pushed them to rethink, refine, and reimagine their businesses.
- [ACCESS Publications Spotlight – August 2025](https://access-centre.org/access-publications-spotlight-august-2025/): As part of our mission to strengthen research on graduate employability, innovation, and promote academic cooperation across Africa and Europe, the ACCESS network is proud to showcase the research of our doctoral researchers and partner scholars. These publications address urgent themes of the Agenda 2030 – from graduate unemployment and gender equality to digital innovation and university-business linkages – while contributing directly to global debates on sustainable development. With each new publication, we highlight how collaborative research within ACCESS generates knowledge that is both academically rigorous and highly relevant to practical applications. Explore the latest insights below and join us in celebrating the achievements of our network.
- [ACCESS IMC Guest Lecturers successfully hosted by the SEPT MBA Programme](https://access-centre.org/access-imc-guest-lecturers-successfully-hosted-by-the-sept-mba-programme/):  
- [ACCESS Summer School 2025: A Week of Research, Methods & Global Exchange](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-2025-a-week-of-research-methods-global-exchange/): The DAAD-funded African Centre for Skills Enhancement and Career Support (ACCESS) hosted summer school participants from all over Africa (and beyond) at Leipzig University from June 20 to 29, 2025. The programme, which was open to PhD students and advanced Masters’ students from ACCESS partner universities in Africa and the Graduate School Global and Area Studies (GSGAS), Leipzig University, provided participants with an opportunity to engage in deep exchange with those from different disciplinary and institutional backgrounds on topics of common interest and to network across disciplinary and geographical boundaries. Our goal was to enhance participants’ methodological capabilities.
- [New Research Publication in the Field of Employability Promotion in the African Context](https://access-centre.org/new-research-publication-in-the-field-of-employability-promotion-in-the-african-context/): Most recently, a research publication in the field of employability promotion in the African context has been published by Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger and Dr. Christopher Boafo (SEPT Competence Center, Leipzig University). The topic is about: "University-Business Linkages for Employability Promotion: Practice Cases from Africa".
- [Apply for the AGEA Science-Based Start-up Project 2025](https://access-centre.org/apply-for-the-agea-science-based-start-up-project-2025/): Are you a scientist, researcher, or postgraduate student with an innovative idea that could change lives? Do you have a research-based innovation that could solve real-world problems and transform industries? If so, this is your chance to bring your idea to life and turn it into a successful start-up.
- [Call for applications: Five PhD positions 2025](https://access-centre.org/call-for-applications-five-phd-positions-2025-african-centre-for-career-enhancement-skills-support-access/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support (ACCESS) is pleased to announce a call for applications for five doctoral scholarships.
- [ACCESS Project recognised as a leading EU-AU research and innovation success story 2024](https://access-centre.org/access-project-recognised-as-a-leading-eu-au-research-and-innovation-success-story-2024/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support (ACCESS), an initiative led by Leipzig University, has been honoured as one of the top EU-AU Research and Innovation (R&I). This accolade was presented during the SEADE R&I Summit held on December 4, 2024, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa.
- [Leipzig University strengthens its role as an excellence centre for international development cooperation with ACCESS 2.0 (2025 – 2029)](https://access-centre.org/leipzig-university-strengthens-its-role-as-an-excellence-centre-for-international-development-cooperation-with-access-2-0-2025-2029/): The DAAD, in October 2024, approved the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) project at the SEPT Competence Center at Leipzig University for a second funding phase (2025 – 2029). Consequently, the implementation of this second phase of ACCESS was kicked off with a planning workshop held in Leipzig from 18 to 20 December 2024. The workshop converged the board members and coordinators from all the core ACCESS partner universities to prepare and lay a solid foundation to better execute the measures outlined in the project by all partners over the project period.
- [Call for applications: ACCESS Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025](https://access-centre.org/call-for-applications-access-postdoctoral-fellowships-2025/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support (ACCESS) is pleased to announce a call for applications for three postdoctoral fellowships. The scheme aims to develop successful candidates in research methodologies related to research and teaching in the field of employability research. Participants may approach employability research from a wide range of disciplines and in line with our research interests that include establishing the impact of global crises and shifts on African markets and labour markets, including how African and global markets and labour markets interact; new ways of digital work; “brain circulation”; and African graduates working abroad.
- [ACCESS 2.0 gets approval for second funding phase](https://access-centre.org/access-2-0-gets-approval-for-second-funding-phase/): A few months ago, the ACCESS project was given the great opportunity by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to apply for a second funding phase as one of seven successful exceed networks. During the ACCESS Research Conference and Summer School in Hammamet at the beginning of October, the time had finally come. ACCESS Director Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger was able to announce the exciting news that the application for the second project phase of ACCESS had been approved by the DAAD.
- [ACCESS organises Career Event for Leipzig University Students](https://access-centre.org/access-organises-career-event-for-leipzig-university-students/): On October 23, 2024, ACCESS, together with the Career Service at Leipzig University, the African Studies Institute, and the Faculty of Anthropology organised an event titled “Creating Change: Career Options in Development Cooperation,” aimed at introducing Leipzig University students to opportunities in the development cooperation sector. The event aims to foster career growth initiatives at Leipzig University, focusing on German and international development cooperation. This event marked the beginning of what could become a series of career-enhancing activities for students.
- [ACCESS Conference Tunisia – Keynotes and Takeaways from the second conference day](https://access-centre.org/access-conference-tunisia-keynotes-and-takeaways-from-the-second-conference-day/): The second day of the ACCESS conference in Tunisia started on a high note with a key address from Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger, the director of the ACCESS project. He tackled the topic on competence development for international intrapreneurship.  His address highlighted the importance of university-business linkages for competence development for internationalization.  He pointed out the   importance of engaging international students in creating business start-ups in Germany as a means of promoting internationalization among students and businesses created through interactions.
- [ACCESS Research Conference and Summer School Tunisia has started](https://access-centre.org/access-research-conference-and-summer-school-tunisia-has-started/): We are excited to announce the commencement of the ACCESS International Conference and Summer School Tunisia 2024. Hosted by the University of Tunis, this five-day event brings together all African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) partners and our esteemed sponsor, DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service).
- [ACCESS Research Conference and Summer School 2024 is about to start in Tunisia](https://access-centre.org/access-research-conference-and-summer-school-2024-is-about-to-start-in-tunisia/): Tomorrow is finally the day when ACCESS Tunisia is hosting the ACCESS Conference and Summer School as the last main event during this funding phase of the ACCESS network. The event is running under the title "Graduate Unemployment in Africa: towards a shift in paradigm" and lasts from the 1st until the 5th of Octobre in Hammamet and Tunis, Tunisia.
- [ACCESS holds its final Conference and Summer School 2024 in Hammamet](https://access-centre.org/access-holds-its-final-conference-and-summer-school-2024-in-hammamet/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support (ACCESS) consortium of universities will be holding an international academic conference and summer school in Hammamet, Tunisia, from October 1 to 5, under the theme: “Graduate unemployment in Africa: towards a paradigm shift”. The conference, which will bring ACCESS' research program (2020-2024) to a successful closure, will focus on the need to revisit economic and other theoretical foundations, in order to update the link between improving the levels of education, particularly university education, of a country's human resources, and economic growth and development, in African countries. It will also analyze the problems associated with university training in African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the inadequacy of course selection, and the quality of higher education, all of which contribute to massive graduate unemployment. The conference will also consider how to redefine and contextualize the concept of employability in Africa.
- [PhD students introduction updated with video interviews](https://access-centre.org/phd-students-introduction-updated-with-video-interviews/): One essential part of the ACCESS Research Pillar are the PhD students who have been working on their doctoral theses since the ACCESS project started in 2020.
- [ACCESS organises special session at IEEE – ICE 2024 conference](https://access-centre.org/access-organises-special-session-at-ieee-ice-2024-conference/): ACCESS was represented at the 30th edition of the International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (IEEE – ICE 2024), hosted by Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias (UNINOVA) in Funchal, Madeira Island - Portugal, from 24 to 28 June 2024, as part of the Madeira Digital Transformation Week.
- [ACCESS project applies for a second funding phase](https://access-centre.org/access-project-applies-for-a-second-funding-phase/): A few months ago, the ACCESS project was given the great opportunity by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to apply for a second funding phase as one of seven successful exceed networks. This second phase would follow on seamlessly from the current funding phase, would have a financial scope of almost five million euros and would run for a further five years (2025 - 2029).
- [University of Ibadan and affiliated partners hosts workshop series on capacity building and the future of work](https://access-centre.org/university-of-ibadan-and-affiliated-partners-hosts-workshop-series-on-capacity-building-and-the-future-of-work/): The workshop series organized by the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) Nigeria for 2024, delved into various aspects of ACCESS activities which include Wiki, E-Teaching, E-Coaching, and E-Learning. Insights on essential soft skills acquisition for the future of work and Universities-Business linkages, with a focus on enhancing graduate employability and fostering innovative ideas were explored. The resource persons, in their presentations, demonstrated depth of expertise in the delivery of each session. The sessions were notably practical, featuring pertinent examples and statistics that are anticipated to leave a lasting impression on the participants. The April/May workshop series are first in the series of trainings and workshops slated for 2024.
- [e-coaching handbook implemented in ACCESS Wiki](https://access-centre.org/e-coaching-handbook-implemented-in-access-wiki/): One of the core activities within the Capacity Building Pillar of the ACCESS project is the development of a theory-based yet practical e-coaching concept that aids in facilitating teaching and learning for both lecturers and students. In times of rapidly changing societal and technological developments, learning processes are no longer limited to physical classrooms. Learners and teachers are increasingly separated by time and space. This new reality presents challenges and complexities, as more information needs to be processed faster and new tasks must be completed. Innovative concepts, such as e-coaching, can help learners and teachers manage this complexity more effectively. We have developed an e-coaching handbook within our extended ACCESS network. This handbook is the result of collaborative efforts by universities from Poland, Finland, Greece, and Germany. It details how these institutions have created training materials and e-learning courses to effectively engage students through remote learning.
- [Second ACCESS PhD student successfully defends his thesis](https://access-centre.org/second-access-phd-student-successfully-defends-his-thesis/): ACCESS is very proud to announce the second successful thesis defense of one of our students of the ACCESS PhD class.
- [First ACCESS PhD students successfully defend their thesises](https://access-centre.org/first-access-phd-students-successfully-defend-their-thesises/): ACCESS is very proud to announce the very first successful defense of one of our students of the ACCESS PhD class.
- [First ACCESS PhD students defense their thesises](https://access-centre.org/first-access-phd-students-defense-their-thesises/): The ACCESS team is very pleased to invite you to the first two PhD - defences of our PhD - grant holders, Emmanuel Agyemang and Theophile Shyriamunda. They are part of the first ACCESS - cohort of PhD - students, who started their PhD programme in 2020.
- [ACCESS Research Conference Tunisia – Deadline for Papers prolonged](https://access-centre.org/access-research-conference-tunisia-deadline-for-papers-prolonged/): For the upcoming ACCESS Research Conference and Summer School in Hammamet, Tunisia in October 2024, the deadline for submitting paper abstracts was now prolonged.
- [ACCESS Ghana equips 197 KNUST students on modern ways to succeed in corporate environment](https://access-centre.org/access-ghana-equips-197-knust-students-on-modern-ways-to-succeed-in-corporate-environment/): One hundred and ninety-seven (197) students of the Department of Publishing Studies of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been trained on ways to succeed in the corporate environment. The initiative is a partnership between the department and the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) project. The project intermittently holds entrepreneurship sessions to encourage young people especially university students to be entrepreneurs and prepare them for the new world of doing business.
- [ACCESS Benin provides entrepreneurship support in collaboration with SMILE](https://access-centre.org/access-benin-provides-entrepreneurship-support-in-collaboration-with-smile/): In the recent days Access Benin got some coaching support from SMILE - die Gründungsinitiative from Leipzig University. In a very fruitful collaboration the two start-up coaches Johannes and Christian of SMILE were providing support in Cotonou instead of Leipzig!
- [ACCESS Summer School Rwanda 2024 – Review of workshops and practical sessions](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-rwanda-2024-review-of-workshops-and-practical-sessions/): The ACCESS Summer School 2024 continued its stride with practical sessions, hosting workshops and presentations on projects and best practices in both Kigali and at the INES Campus in Ruhengeri on February 6th and 7th.
- [CALL FOR PAPERS is open – ACCESS Summer School Tunisia October 2024](https://access-centre.org/call-for-papers-is-open-access-summer-school-tunisia-october-2024/): The second ACCESS Summer School in 2024 will take place in Tunisia this October. In preliminary to this event, ACCESS Tunisia is excited to announce the corresponding Call for Papers to this event. The conference will be held from the 1st to 5th of October under the theme “Graduate Unemployment in Africa: Towards a Shift in Paradigm”.
- [ACCESS Summer school themed “Universities and businesses as agents of change: Embracing transformational learning approaches has started](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-themed-universities-and-businesses-as-agents-of-change-embracing-transformational-learning-approaches-has-started/): The ACCESS network commenced 2024 with the ACCESS International Summer School in Kigali, Rwanda. The event is hosted by the Institut d’Enseignement Superieur (INES) in Ruhengeri, Rwanda, from February 4th to 10th. With a focus on "Universities and businesses as agents of change: Embracing transformational learning approaches," the event delved into vital topics concerning the role of universities in preparing students and graduates for the job market while upholding academic standards and the needs of industry. Speakers emphasized the importance of practical learning methods bridging theory and practice, and the mutual benefits of university-business partnerships.
- [ACCESS Summer School 2024 in Rwanda is about to start](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-2024-in-rwanda-is-about-to-start/): Although it is still February, the ACCESS community is already active by hosting the first big conference event in 2024. Starting today, from the 04th – 10th of February the Institut d’Enseignement Superieur (INES) will host the first ACCEESS International Summer School for this year in Ruhengeri, Rwanda.
- [ACCESS takes part in the ICE Conference 2024](https://access-centre.org/access-takes-part-in-the-ice-conference-2024/): This summer, we are attending the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (IEEE - ICE2024) taking place from the 24th to the 28th of June 2024 in Funchal - Madeira Island. With Prof. Utz Dornberger and Dr. Kevin Reuther, we have two ACCESS Board members representing ACCESS on the conference.
- [Strengthening University-Industry Linkages for Career Enhancement: Key Takeaways from the ACCESS Training of Trainers Workshop in Kenya](https://access-centre.org/strengthening-university-industry-linkages-for-career-enhancement-key-takeaways-from-the-access-training-of-trainers-workshop-in-kenya/): In December 2023, the ACCESS Training of Trainers (ToT) Workshop took place in Kenya, bringing together representatives from nine local universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to address the pressing need for stronger linkages between academia and industry. The workshop, held on the 18 and 19 December at Mount Kenya University, focused on University Business Linkages (UBL) and Career Enhancement (CE) strategies aimed at improving the career readiness of students. The workshop featured various sessions with active participation from all participants.
- [Call for Application for the International Germany Alumni Seminar: Entrepreneurship for Agriculture](https://access-centre.org/call-for-application-for-the-international-germany-alumni-seminar-entrepreneurship-for-agriculture/): Dear Alumni, we have great news: The call for application for the International Germany Alumni Training Seminar Entrepreneurship For Agriculture: Methods, Energy, Ranch 4.0 (E-FARMER 4.0) is open.
- [“The Idea Market” Business Model Competition held in Cotonou, Benin](https://access-centre.org/the-idea-market-business-model-competition-held-in-cotonou-benin/): ACCESS Benin, led by IRGIB Africa University, organised “The Idea Market” Business Model Competition at ‘Le Majestic’ from 03 – 04 October 2023. The event was designed with a focus on enhancing the skills of participating entrepreneurs in three areas:
- [Promoting Green and Digital Entrepreneurship in Africa: Green Economy Study Tour](https://access-centre.org/promoting-green-and-digital-entrepreneurship-in-africa-green-economy-study-tour/): From 31 August to 04 September 2023, AGEA, in collaboration with the Digital Logistics Project, organized a five-day Green Economy Study Tour as a follow-up to the AGEA Business Idea Competition 2023. The event hosted six start-up teams of the seven finalists of the 2023 AGEA Business Idea Competition in person in Leipzig, Germany. The start-up teams were Solar-Powered Sensor Drone, Smart Farm, Kodu-pads from Kodu Technology, OzoneTech, Hermetiavity, and AgroPremium. The team from Garden in a box Africa (GarbA) participated virtually. Read about the start-up teams here.
- [ACCESS Summer School Nigeria – Presentations are online](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-nigeria-presentations-are-online/): As additional support material, please find in the following the slides of the PowerPoint presentations, that were held during the ACCESS Summer School in Abuja, Nigeria.
- [ACCESS University of Ideas 2023 is Officially Open!](https://access-centre.org/access-university-of-ideas-2023-is-now-officially-open/): ACCESS University of Ideas 2023 competition is officially launched, and we could not be more thrilled to kickstart this inspiring journey! We warmly invite all esteemed African university lecturers, professors and dedicated academic and administrative staff to come together and share their visionary ideas to enhance University Business Linkages and Career Enhancement for African University Graduates.
- [ACCESS International Summer School and Conference in Nigeria concluded](https://access-centre.org/access-international-summer-school-and-conference-in-nigeria-concluded/): The second ACCESS International Summer School and Conference 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria recently concluded.
- [ACCESS in the News – Implementation of new varsity curriculum will boost graduates’ employability skills](https://access-centre.org/access-in-the-news-implementation-of-new-varsity-curriculum-will-boost-graduates-employability-skills/): During the ACCESS International Summer School and Conference in Abuja, also the press followed the invitation to the opening ceremony and reported about the event.
- [“Smart-Green” Ideas Soar High: Business Idea Competition 2023 Winners Unveiled](https://access-centre.org/smart-green-ideas-soar-high-business-idea-competition-2023-winners-unveiled/): The final of the AGEA Business Idea Competition 2023 was held on 31 July 2023 as part of the opening day of the ACCESS International Summer School and Conference, held in Abuja, Nigeria. The event was organised in a blended format with about 150 in-person and over 100 virtual participants. The participants were made up of students and lecturers from African universities.
- [ACCESS Summer School has positive impact on National Universities Commission in Nigeria](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-has-positive-impact-on-national-universities-commission-in-nigeria/): During the International Conference and Sumer School currently taking place in Abuja, ACCESS is proud to achieve a first important impact. The National Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday has expressed its readiness to boost programmes aimed at improving employability skills of Nigerian universities’ graduates.
- [Programme of the 2023 International Summer School and Conference Nigeria](https://access-centre.org/programme-of-the-2023-international-summer-school-and-conference-nigeria/): As a supportive information material, you can find and download the whole programme of the 2023 International Summer School and Conference here:
- [Invitation to AGEA Business Idea Competition Final](https://access-centre.org/invitation-to-agea-business-idea-competition-final/): ACCESS kindly invites you to participate in the AGEA Business Idea Competition 2023 Grand Final.
- [On the road to Nigeria – Thoughts and expectations about the conference and Summer School – Part 3](https://access-centre.org/on-the-road-to-nigeria-thoughts-and-expectations-about-the-conference-and-summer-school-part-3/): As a preliminary to the shortly starting ACCESS conference and summer school in Abuja, we have asked some attendees – among them ACCESS team members and PhDs – about their thoughts and expectations about the upcoming event. Here are the answers of the third three interviewees:
- [On the road to Nigeria – Thoughts and expectations about the conference and Summer School – Part 2](https://access-centre.org/on-the-road-to-nigeria-thoughts-and-expectations-about-the-conference-and-summer-school-part-2/): As a preliminary to the shortly starting ACCESS conference and summer school in Abuja, we have asked some attendees – among them ACCESS team members and PhDs – about their thoughts and expectations about the upcoming event. Here are the answers of the second three interviewees:
- [On the road to Nigeria – Thoughts and expectations about the conference and Summer School – Part 1](https://access-centre.org/on-the-road-to-nigeria-thoughts-and-expectations-about-the-conference-and-summer-school-part-1/): As a preliminary to the shortly starting ACCESS conference and summer school in Abuja, we have asked some attendees – among them ACCESS team members and PhDs – about their thoughts and expectations about the upcoming event. Here are the answers of the first three interviewees:
- [Leipzig University and Brandeis University hosting Employability conference in November](https://access-centre.org/leipzig-university-and-brandeis-university-hosting-employability-conference-in-november/): The ACCESS project at Leipzig University in cooperation with the Heller School at Brandeis University will be  hosting an Employability conference in November 2023.
- [Thouraya Garraoui](https://access-centre.org/thouraya-garraoui/): University of Tunis Tunisia
- [Isaac Duodu](https://access-centre.org/nasser-msalem-2/): KNUST
Ghana
- [Theophile Shyiramunda](https://access-centre.org/theophile-shyiramunda/): INES-Ruhengeri
Rwanda
- [Hermine Sossouhounto](https://access-centre.org/hermine-sossouhounto/): IRGIB Africa
Benin
- [Emna Saidi](https://access-centre.org/emna-saidi/): University of Tunis
Tunisia
- [Nasser Msalem](https://access-centre.org/nasser-msalem/): University of Tunis
Tunisia
- [Dolly Mavuta](https://access-centre.org/dolly-mavuta/): Mount Kenya University
Kenya
- [First ACCESS PhD candidates finalise their theses](https://access-centre.org/first-access-phd-candidates-finalise-their-theses/): As one important part of the ACCESS network, the ACCESS Research Pillar is following a multidisciplinary research approach that focuses on broad questions like necessary worker skills, labor market requirements in Africa and the role of universities within this environment. With the research pillar, the ACCESS project facilitates young African researchers in broadening their way for a scientific career and supports them in gaining professional research competencies. As part of this research pillar, the first cohort of seven PhD students started their research in 2020.
- [ACCESS Summer School 2023 in Kenya successfully ended](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-2023-in-kenya-successfully-ended/): The ACCESS Summer School 2023 in Kenya is over. The Mount Kenya University (MKU) successfully hosted this event for the ACCESS network and its seven partner universities. With more than 1.000 participants, the blended conference was officially opened on Monday May 22nd by MKU Vice Chancellor, Professor Deogratius Jaganyi and ended on 26th of May 2023 in Thika town.
- [ACCESS Benin hosted “Mastering Business Models” conference](https://access-centre.org/access-benin-hosted-mastering-business-models-conference/): From the 02.-05. of May, our ACCESS partner Benin hosted a conference under the title “Mastering Business Models”.
- [Temitope Faloye](https://access-centre.org/temitope-faloye/): University of Ibadan
Ibadan
- [Christopher Boafo](https://access-centre.org/emmanuel-agyemang-2/): KNUST
Ghana
- [Doris Alago](https://access-centre.org/doris-alago/): MKU
Kenya
- [Emmanuel Agyemang](https://access-centre.org/emmanuel-agyemang/): KNUST
Ghana
- [Jean Marc Aurele Toni](https://access-centre.org/bismark-agyei-yeboah/): IRGIB Africa
Benin
- [JOIN THE COMPETITION: AGEA Business Idea Competition 2023](https://access-centre.org/join-the-competition-agea-business-idea-competition-2023/): In cooperation with ACCESS, the Business Idea Competition 2023 is a platform to unearth and support innovative business start-up ideas from academic/scientific research conducted at African universities and research institutions. This is an opportunity for academia and scientific staff in African higher education institutions to express their entrepreneurial abilities and test the business potential in their research results.
- [ACCESS and Erasmus+ project realising synergy effects in e-coaching](https://access-centre.org/access-and-erasmus-project-realising-synergy-effects-in-e-coaching/): How to effectively engage students with distance learning? This question has affected nearly everyone involved in teaching and learning at higher education institutions in Europe and worldwide since the outbreak of the CoViD-19 pandemic.
- [Mount Kenya University in preparation of the ACCESS Summer School 2023](https://access-centre.org/mount-kenya-university-in-preparation-of-the-access-summer-school-2023/): The first ACCESS Summer School in 2023 will be hosted by the Mount Kenya University and will take place from 22nd - 26th of May 2023 in Thika, Kenya. The Summer School will explore issues around the topic “Beyond Classroom Experience in the Lenses of University-Industry Interaction” and will include activities like Keynote speeches, practical experience sharing, curriculum development discourse and interactive sessions among the participants.
- [ACCESS Wiki links Entrepreneurship to the Humanities](https://access-centre.org/access-wiki-links-entrepreneurship-to-the-humanities/): In light of the interdisciplinary approach of the ACCESS project, ACCESS Tunisia organized the first in a series of workshops and roundtable discussions with university lecturers on the 13th of February 2023 to exchange knowledge and gain insights into the current challenges and prospects of teaching entrepreneurship to humanities students. The starting point was an observation of a workshop based entirely on material from ACCESS Wiki and held with ten students at the Higher Institute of Applied Studies in Humanities of Sbeitla.
- [ACCESS Benin hosts workshop series about Grant Writing, Quality Management and Podcast Development](https://access-centre.org/access-benin-hosts-workshop-series-about-grant-writing-quality-management-and-podcast-development/): Back in December, ACCESS Benin hosted some workshops to bring the year 2022 to a close. With respect to the goals of the ACCESS project, they saw the need to hold some information sessions with students, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
- [CALL FOR APPLICATION – ACCESS Employability Conference 2023 in Nigeria](https://access-centre.org/call-for-application-access-employability-conference-2023-in-nigeria/): As one part of the ACCESS Summer School 2023, our partner University of Ibadan from Nigeria is hosting an Employability Conference from 30th of July - 1st of August 2023 in the city of Abuja. The conference is led under the topic “Cultivating New Frontiers in Employability Research for Skills and Career Enhancement” and will include activities like Keynote speeches and practical experience sharing among the participants.
- [Winners of the University of Ideas Competition 2022 presented](https://access-centre.org/winners-of-the-university-of-ideas-competition-2022-presented/): The awards ceremony of the “University of Ideas” competition 2022 was held on the 18th of January 2023, as part of the iN4iN Conference organized by the SEPT Competence Center, Leipzig University. The Ideas competition seeks to identify innovative ideas, large and small, that can stimulate the development of the topics of digital tools/formats in education, university-business linkages, and career enhancement in the context of improving employability through universities in the Global South. This year’s competition was organized as a collaboration between the ACCESS project and iN4iN with support from the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD), the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Conoscope Resulting Group.
- [ACCESS Leipzig team participates in iN4iN Conference](https://access-centre.org/access-leipzig-participates-in-in4in-conference/): Last week on the 18th and 19th of January, the team of ACCESS was pleased to take part in the iN4iN (Intelligence for Innovation) Conference 2023 at Leipzig University, which was hosted under the title “USE OF DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP COACHING AND TEACHING”. As one part of the agenda, Sandy Adam and Matthias Grahl from the ACCESS Leipzig Team were speaking about the usage of a Wiki as a modern type of knowledge source and introduced the ACCESS Wiki to the audience as an important and helpful tool for the further development of coaching processes between lecturers and students. On the second conference day, Sandy Adam together with her SEPT colleague Anne Bastian additionally hosted a workshop about the topic “Hands-on e-coaching at HEIs”.
- [ACCESS Rwanda organises stakeholder meetings on Employment and Service Learning](https://access-centre.org/access-rwanda-organises-stakeholder-meetings-on-employment-and-service-learning/): In August and September 2022, ACCESS Rwanda in cooperation with the Musanze Employment Centre, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and GIZ organised stakeholder meetings to discuss current challenges regarding the employment of graduates from higher education institutions, internship and placement negotiations, information sharing and training and coaching students in subject-specific and generic competencies needed in the Musanze and Northern Province labour market. One of the key objectives for the area is to transform it into a tourism hub in the country.
- [Project and Roll-out activities of ACCESS partner University of Tunis 2022](https://access-centre.org/project-and-roll-out-activities-of-access-partner-university-of-tunis-2022/): Text: Ghofrane Bounouh
- [Visit of Tunisian partners in Leipzig from October 9-14, 2022](https://access-centre.org/visit-of-tunisian-partners-in-leipzig-from-october-9-14-2022/): It had not been possible for a long time due to problems with visa issuance: Finally, our Tunisian ACCESS partners Prof. Dr. Hamadi Tizaoui (Board Member) and Ghofrane Bounouh (Project Coordinator) were able to visit Leipzig from October 9-14, 2022. On Monday and Tuesday, the focus was on working with the ACCESS doctoral candidates. In particular, our Tunisian PhD students had the opportunity to receive detailed feedback on the status of their work on employability in Tunisia.
- [S∙E∙A∙M Workshop Series coming in January 2023](https://access-centre.org/s%e2%88%99e%e2%88%99a%e2%88%99m-workshop-series-coming-in-january-2023/): In collaboration with partners from the chair of Management and Economics of Innovation at the Leipzig University, the ACCESS project offers an intensive workshop series at the beginning of the year 2023! The series will address Ideation and Entrepreneurship Support through various tailor made sessions for the core partners of the ACCESS project and the network of affiliated universities.
- [Upcoming Workshops in 2022](https://access-centre.org/upcoming-workshops-in-2022/): Additional workshops are coming at the end of the year! In the context of the ACCESS project, Leipzig University will offer two additional workshops which will start in 2022 and continue through additional sessions in the upcoming year. Starting with an introduction in Grant Proposal Writing, we will initiate a series of workshops in the upcoming years which will progress around the development of proposals for grants. The second workshop will be focusing on Best Practices from Leipzig University in regards of University Business Linkages & Career Enhancement!
- [The ACCESS Wiki is published and ready to use](https://access-centre.org/the-access-wiki-is-published-and-ready-to-use/): One of the goals of the ACCESS project is to provide teachers at the African partner universities with a broad knowledge base for their work and to support them with both theoretical and practical methods. For this purpose, the idea of a Wiki was developed and implemented. The main goal of the wiki is to make content available from lecturers for lecturers. Applied methods and tools can be presented on the platform and adopted by other lecturers for their teaching activities.
- [ACCESS made its spot at the 4th Ghana Studies Association Conference: 18th -20th July 2022](https://access-centre.org/access-made-its-spot-at-the-4th-ghana-studies-association-conference-18th-20th-july-2022/): Three ACCESS PhD Student Researchers have presented papers at the 4th Ghana Studies Association Conference,2022, in Ghana. The three days event took place on 18th -20th July at Tamale in Ghana, under the theme: “Ghana at Crossroads.”
- [IN4IN/ACCESS University of Ideas Competition 2022: Registration Open](https://access-centre.org/in4in-access-university-of-ideas-competition-2022-registration-open/): The IN4IN Network of the SEPT Competence Center, in collaboration with the ACCESS project, announces the opening of the application period for the “University of Ideas” Competition 2022.
- [KNUST hosts a Panel Discussion on Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry](https://access-centre.org/knust-hosts-a-panel-discussion-on-bridging-the-gap-between-academia-and-industry/): About reconciling the connection between academia and the corporate world, the ACCESS Partner Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has hosted an expert panel discussion on ‘The role of external stakeholders in the Development of employable skills.’ The discussion formed part of the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) International Summer School held from 16th to 20th May, 2022.
- [Registration for the AGEA Business Idea Competition 2022 is open](https://access-centre.org/registration-for-the-agea-business-idea-competition-2022-is-open/): The African German Entrepreneurship Academy (AGEA) pillar of ACCESS is pleased to announce the opening of registrations and submissions for the AGEA Business Idea Competition 2022.
- [ACCESS Summer School 2022 in Ghana successfully held by KNUST](https://access-centre.org/access-summer-school-2022-successfully-held-by-knust-in-ghana/): The second International Summer School of the ACCESS project in 2022 has just been concluded in Ghana under the title „The Future of work: A Focus on Employability Skills Development“ and was successfully hosted by KNUST (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology). The conference took place from 16th to 20th of May in Akosombo for the first three days and ended at the headquarter of KNUST in Kumasi. The main participants were representatives of the seven partner universities of the ACCESS project such as board members, project coordinators, lecturers and PhD students.
- [First half of ACCESS Summer School 2022 in Ghana successful ends](https://access-centre.org/first-half-of-access-summer-school-2022-in-ghana-successful-ends/): The first three days of the ACCES Summer School 2022 are over. Under the title "The Future of work: A focus on employability skills development", all participants have so far experienced interesting presentations and insights into the approach of the several partner universities to equip graduates not only with academic skills but also with comprehensive employability skills that can help fresh graduates function in the world of work, now and in the future. By that, the changing role of lecturers was also discussed intensively.
- [ACCESS partner university INES Ruhengeri hosts workshop training on employability skills](https://access-centre.org/access-partner-university-ines-ruhengeri-hosts-workshop-training-on-employability-skills/): From the 25th to 29th of April 2022, ACCESS partner university INES RUHENGERI in Rwanda is hosting a workshop training on employability skills via its Incubation Center. This five-day program is intended to enlighten fresh graduates on core employability skills needed on the employment market, so that they can align them with their educational background. It is the second intake in a series of workshops intended for fresh graduates who find it difficult to secure jobs from employers. They want to understand employers’ requirements, so that they can try to match them with their academically acquired skills but also their skills and competences obtained from other channels. Participants will cover the following concepts: Understanding Employability concepts, Digital literacy for employment, Job getting skills and life learning skills, Entrepreneurship and project / Business modelling, Service learning.

## Pages
- [Addis Ababa University](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/addis-ababa-university/): Established in 1950 as the University College of Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa University is the oldest and leading higher education institution in Ethiopia. What began with a small number of faculties has grown into a major academic institution with 14 faculties, offering programmes across a wide range of disciplines. 
- [University of Ideas](https://access-centre.org/university-of-ideas/): What can I win at the idea competition?
- [Research project: Job profiles in Africa](https://access-centre.org/research_project_job_profiles/): Most people in Africa work so-called "informal jobs" or in precarious low-paid jobs that can't cover their cost of living. They often don't have a contract, don´t pay into a social security system, and lack a lot of safety and privileges that workers in the global north might take for granted. One of the ongoing projects ACCESS has carried out is something we call our "Job Profiles" project. We want to understand everyday life for workers that might otherwise be invisible. We interviewed hundreds of workers across our six partner countries to get answers to some pressing questions. What kind of jobs are they doing? How many hours do they work, and how much money do they make? What happens when something like COVID happens? Most people globally, to some degree, belong to the so-called informal economy, and we must understand its characteristics and how it works. Look at some of our interviews below to get an idea about what we have learned.
- [PhD Publications](https://access-centre.org/phd_publications/): The Access PhD students are not only working on their dissertations but are actively publishing in a wide variety of selected journals. From topics ranging to entrepreneurship in Ghana, community expectations of universities in Rwanda, and service learning practices, our PhDs are contributing and further debate across a wide variety of fields. Besides them, other team members and board members of Access are also participating in the scientific discourse. Have a look at their publications below.
- [ACCESS Employability Conference Nigeria_2023](https://access-centre.org/access-conference-nigeria_2023/): The conference agenda featured a diverse array of sessions, including lectures, discussions, and hands-on workshops. Key sessions comprised:
- [ACCESS Leipzig Meeting_2022](https://access-centre.org/access_leipzig_meeting_2022/): The first in-person meeting of the ACCESS Project consortium partners took place in Leipzig from 7 to 10 February 2022. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, the event successfully gathered over 30 participants, including board members, coordinators, doctoral students, and other key figures involved in the project's implementation. The meeting was conducted in a blended format, allowing those unable to travel to Leipzig to participate online.
- [Summer School Rwanda_2024](https://access-centre.org/summer-school-rwanda_2024/): The 5th ACCESS International Summer School was hosted by the Institut d’Enseignement Superieur (INES) in Ruhengeri, Rwanda, and took place from 4 to 10 February 2024. With a focus on “Universities and Businesses as Agents of Change: Embracing Transformational Learning Approaches,” the event covered a wide range of topics concerning the role of universities in preparing students and graduates for the job market while upholding academic standards and meeting industry needs. Speakers emphasised the importance of practical learning methods that bridge theory and practice and the mutual benefits of university-business partnerships.
- [Summer School Nigeria_2023](https://access-centre.org/summer-school-nigeria_2023/): Organised by the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), the 4th ACCESS International Summer School and Conference took place in Abuja, Nigeria, from 31 July to 4 August 2023. Over these five days, more than 300 participants from seven partner universities in six African countries and Germany attended the event in person and online. The conference and summer school, held under the title “Cultivating New Frontiers in Employability Research for Skills and Career Enhancement,” focused on enhancing the employability of African graduates through four key pillars: Capacity Building, University Business Linkage, Employability Research, and the African-German Entrepreneurship Academy. The event was attended by prominent figures, including the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. David Adejo Andrew; the Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Dr. Chris J. Maiyaki; the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; and representatives from various educational and employment organisations such as NECA, NYSC, and the Industrial Training Fund.
- [Summer School Ghana_2022](https://access-centre.org/summer-school-ghana_2022/): The 2nd ACCESS International Summer School 2022 was organised in Ghana and hosted by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The event took place from 16 to 20 May 2022. The main participants were representatives of the seven partner universities of the ACCESS project, including board members, project coordinators, lecturers, and PhD students. The summer school's primary focus was on “The Future of Work: A Focus on Employability Skills Development” emphasising the importance of digital skills, soft skills, and the need for a collaborative approach between universities and industry to enhance employability.
- [Summer School Benin_2022](https://access-centre.org/summer-school-benin_2022/): The 1st ACCESS International Summer School was organised by IRGIB Africa University in Cotonou, Benin. The 5-day event, which began on 28 March 2022 and ended on 1 April 2022, operated under the theme “Improving Graduate Employability through Service-Learning Implementation in African HEIs: Academic and Business Collaboration.” Over 50 in-person and virtual participants took part in the event, including representatives of the seven partner universities of the project—board members, project coordinators, lecturers, and PhD students.
- [Summer School Kenya_2023](https://access-centre.org/summer-school-kenya_2023/): From 22 to 26 May 2023, Mount Kenya University hosted the 3rd ACCESS Summer School at the Mwai Kibaki International Convention Centre in Thika and the School of Business and Economics in Nairobi. This year’s event, themed “Beyond Classroom Experience in the Lenses of University–Industry Interaction”, brought together 30 delegates from Germany, Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Rwanda, and Kenya.
- [About](https://access-centre.org/about/)
- [Conferences & Publications](https://access-centre.org/conferences-publications/): Welcome to the overview of conferences our ACCESS PhD candidates have participated in and contributed to! We express our gratitude for their contributions and efforts in advancing the research topics within their respective fields and our contributing to the outcomes of the ACCESS project.
- [UBL/ CE Pillar | Promotion Series](https://access-centre.org/ubl-ce-pillar-promotion-series/): Welcome to the "ACCESS Road Trip"! This is a promotional series that aims to introduce you to our core African partner universities and the larger network of affiliated universities in our project. We are excited to take you on a journey across Africa to showcase the diverse and vibrant higher education institutions that we work with and which are sharing our vision and goals of the ACCESS project.
- [Events](https://access-centre.org/events-2/): Overview Events 2020-2023 2023 2022 2021 2020 Activities in 2020 Activities in 2021 Activities in 2022 Activities in 2023
- [ACCESS PhD Candidates](https://access-centre.org/phd_candidates/): We have rigorous selection criteria that prioritize talented and dedicated candidates that focus research topics which address the most relevant questions and challenges the ACCESS Project tries to find solutions for.
- [Virtual Stay Scholarships](https://access-centre.org/virtual-stay-scholarships/): In 2021-2022, the world faced unforeseen hurdles, compelling us to rethink traditional approaches to education, collaboration, and professional development. Despite these challenges, our commitment to empowering the future workforce in Africa remained steadfast. As a response to the pandemic, we organized the Virtual Stay Scholarships, ensuring that learning and growth transcend physical limitations. We thought to facilitate the advanced development of innovative ideas, methods and training approaches by lecturers in order to push the issue of employability and ideally open up career paths for graduates. Therefore, each core partner university was providing three virtual stay scholarships. The beneficiaries were enabled to focus on developing solutions in the fields of our main project pillars (UBL/CE | Capacity Building  (CB) | Research) for three month and to disseminate the results in the ACCESS network channels. 
- [Card System UBL](https://access-centre.org/card-system-ubl/): We like to introduce our "card system", developed as a result of our successful UBL/CE Transfer Workshop series conducted for each of our six core partners. This system is designed to help our partners promote University Business Linkages (UBL) and Career Enhancement (CE) in a clear, concise and visually appealing way. We have created a series of cards for each of our partners which, on the one hand, are closely modelled after the University of Leipzig's UBL/CE transfer approach - as a part of the so called "Leipziger Way". On the other hand, they offer specific information, goals and activities that our core partners have to provide. Feel free to look around and find out what our partners are doing.
- [Events](https://access-centre.org/events/): EVENT TIMELINE 2020-2024 2023 July | UBL/CE Transfer Strategy workshop series has started The Leipzig team has started the transfer strategy workshop series with its African partners. Within the upcoming months IRGIB, MKU, INES, KNUST, Tunis University and the University of Ibadan will each develop tailor made transfer strategies. In accordance to the strategy of hands-on measures will be developed to foster its 2022 July | Access and Benefit Sharing – Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Access and Benefit Sharing – Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (ABSbio) (2019 – 2022) The joint project seeks to introduce entrepreneurship promotion as a cross-cutting issue into existing sustainability and biodiversity programmes at our partner universities in Uganda and Benin. The project partners are Leipzig University (Germany), Makerere University (Uganda) and IRGIB 2021 June | First Pan African University (PAU) Innovation Challenge The top 3 winners of the Grand Final of the 1st PAU Innovation Challenge has been announced. Under the patronage of H.E. Prof Sarah Anyang Agbor, AUC Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), the Grand Final of the 1st PAU Innovation Challenge (www.pau-au.africa) went on successfully. The event June | First batch of AGEA Training Course on “Entrepreneurship Promotion and Education at African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)” Completed. The two (2) modules of the AGEA training on Entrepreneurship Promotion and Education at African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) was successfully completed for the first batch of participants. The AGEA training sessions were held as follows: Module 1 (Developing Entrepreneurial Courses at HEIs) – 28 April and 05 May 2021; April | University of Ideas | Competition 2021 The Idea competition “University of Ideas” organized by the African Centre for Career Enhancement and Skills Support (ACCESS) emphasizes the role of lecturers as drivers of innovation and asks for solutions to three urgent questions that the higher education system in Africa face in order to increase the employability of graduates:
What might be an innovative format look like to support students’ integration into the labour market? How can team work & collaboration be taught/ developed in an innovative online format? How can “Service Learning” be integrated in an innovative online format in the university curricula? March | Conference "Work and economic futures: African and beyond" During this conference, the topics of graduate unemployment, skills development and employability promotion will be addressed within the broader framework of the multiple aspects of economic futures and shaping the future in Africa, and will also be examined from a German perspective.
Two key note speakers will address relevant topics related to the above aspects, and another roundtable with eminent local scholars will focus on the German perspective on a global economic future. 2020 November | Arrival First PhD Cohort We are pleased to announce that the first candidates in the ACCESS project have arrived, from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia, Rwanda and Benin. The topics of their work range from digital marketing to the influence of social networks to the development of internationalisation in relation to employability. We are looking forward to the collaboration! November | University of Ideas Competition Our Kick Off Event for the ACCESS Idea Competition took place on 2 November 2020. Our competition strives to develop and present innovative ideas on “How can employability skills be developed and implemented in future university curriculum?”. Possibilities to address the topic can range from teaching ideas and methods to the integration and establishment of university business linkages. Ideas can be handed in here until 15 November. e-Kick Off | June The e-Kick Off event in July 2020 aimed to introduce ACCESS to a broad target group, to promote familiarization and team building skills within the University of Leipzig and the six African partner universities, and to report on current progress within the project. The Covid Pandemic notwithstanding, we got to know each other through extensive online sessions! Project Start | January The successful start of the project in January 2020!
- [Wiki](https://access-centre.org/projekt/wiki/): As one important part of the ACCESS project, the ACCESS-Wiki has been developed as a shared online platform that will serve primarily as a broad digital knowledge base and skills development toolkit for lecturers. The wiki compiles content from a variety of topic areas, including collaboration and teamwork, communication skills development, entrepreneurial skills development, intercultural competencies, and e-coaching approaches. For each topic area, several digital tools are also presented for support. In total, more than 100 digital tools are thus made available for further use and testing.
- [ROLL-OUT UBL PILLAR](https://access-centre.org/roll-out/): A large part of the UBL pillar's work consists of designing UBL & CE activities, not only for the core partners of the ACCESS project, but also for partner universities from the regional networks. Building on the efforts of the core partners' activities and fields of activity, the next step is to broaden the perspective to the regional networks in order to transfer aspects and results of our work to them. The so-called roll-out of the UBL Pillar thus foresees two central pillars. The development and implementation of activities of the core partners and the support and the integration of partners from the regional networks. This is an ongoing process that is expected to launch numerous activities by the end of 2024. It is not so much about covering the whole process of an activity, or implementing a certain type of activity, but more about launching tailor-made activities for their respective environment.
- [UBL & CE WORKSHOP SERIES | TRANSFER STRATEGY AND MEASURE DEVELOPMENT](https://access-centre.org/projekt/university-business-linkage/strategy-development/): The Workshop series was an intensive endeavor that explored themes, experiences and competences from various different partners. Our core understanding and  motto during that time can best be described with the following quote!
- [Photo Gallery – ACCESS Meeting Leipzig 2022](https://access-centre.org/photo-gallery-access-meeting-leipzig-2022/): 07.02.2022, Opening Day, Alte Handelsbörse 08.02.2022, Capacity Building Pillar Session, Sports Science Faculty 09.02.2022, Employability Research Pillar, Geography Department 10.02.2022, University-Business Linkages and AGEA Session, SEPT Competence Center
- [Ideas Competition](https://access-centre.org/idea-competition/): The ACCESS Ideas Competition Hub is a platform that has hosted various ideas competitions over the past five years. Following two major branches of competition, we engaged in an array of subjects, fields, and sectors to further our basic objective. These contests share a similar goal of involving key stakeholders such as educators, researchers, administrators, students, and graduates in order to generate practical solutions to persistent challenges faced by African higher education institutions. The competitions aim to inspire long-term solutions by encouraging cooperation and innovation within the system while also recognizing possibilities to maximize the potential of its individuals and their institutions. 
- [Entrepreneurship Academy](https://access-centre.org/projekt/entrepreneurship-academy/): The already established African German Entrepreneurship Academy (AGEA) with 37 universities in Africa will be integrated into ACCESS. AGEA works in three different areas: Promoting entrepreneurship in Africa, supporting African-oriented start-ups in Germany and developing access to African markets.
- [Employability Research](https://access-centre.org/projekt/employability-research/): The ACCESS Research Pillar aims to shed light on an issue of enormous importance not only for Africa but for the entire world, namely graduate unemployment. Over 60% of Africa's population is under the age of 25, and at the same time, the African labor market finds itself unable to absorb this amount of potential workers: The question of necessary worker skills, labor market requirements, and the role of universities has never been more pressing. Measured by the sheer magnitude of this problem, the ACCESS Research Pillar is following a multidisciplinary approach to address these broad questions.
- [University Business Linkage](https://access-centre.org/projekt/university-business-linkage/): With a focus on the third mission of higher education institutions, we pursue strengthening relationships between universities and the private sector. Our goal is to expand cooperation and knowledge exchange between stakeholders, thus creating a growing/enriching environment and new professional opportunities for African students. In doing so, we focus on the development of organizational structures that adapt to the respective environment and its stakeholders.
- [Capacity Building](https://access-centre.org/projekt/capacity-building/): The main activities of the capacity building pillar includes a Skills Development Toolkit, an e-coaching concept and the roll-out of the capacity building program. The Skills Development Toolkit provides faculty with a range of teaching approaches and methods to deliver different learning approaches to their students: Service Learning, Intrapreneurial Learning, and Performance Training. Content for the Skills Development Toolkit and concepts have been compiled in the ACCESS Wiki.
- [Leipzig University](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/leipzig-university/): The Leipzig University was founded in 1409 and is thus one of the oldest universities in Europe. In its 14 faculties, the university combines modernity with tradition for its approximately 31.000 students. With a total of 158 degree programs, the university offers a unique variety of subjects.
- [INES-Ruhengeri](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/ines-ruhengeri/): The Institut d'Enseignement Superieur (INES) de Ruhengeri has exists since 2003 and currently teaches about 3.250 students. The university in Rwanda has about 100 lecturers. An additional 50 people support the university as administrative staff. The goal of the private learning institution is to impart knowledge that serves and ultimately helps unite the world. It combines theoretical learning and practical application to train its students to responsibly find sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our society.
- [Tunis University](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/university-of-tunis/): Tunis University integrates 15 educational and research institutions that provide courses of study of various kinds. The university has existed since 1958 and currently teaches about 20.000 students, facing about 1.300 lecturers. In addition, there are 960 other employees, 41 research insitutions and four doctoral schools.
- [University of Ibadan](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/university-of-ibadan/): In 1948, the first university ever was founded in Nigeria: the University of Ibadan. At that time, there were courses of study for art, science and medicine. Now there are 17 different faculties in a wide variety of fields. The University of Ibadan awards an average of 3.000 master's degrees and around 250 doctorates each year. This supports its vision of being a world-class institution for academic excellence that is responsive to the needs of society.
- [Mount Kenya University](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/mount-kenya-university/): Mount Kenya University (MKU) provides its students with access to higher education - at the main campus in Thika and at various other locations in East Africa. The university's academic program is characterized by innovation and is focused on the technical and scientific needs of African society.
- [KNUST](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/knust/): KNUST - short for Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology - is a premium science and technology university located in Kumasi-Ghana, West Africa. It has been in existence since 1951 and currently teaches about 75.000 students in subjects such as science, pharmacy, medicine, construction, arts, social science, business or law. About 57% of the students are male, 43% female. The university's staff consists of about 2.200 men and about 800 women.
- [IRGIB Africa University](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/irgib-africa-university/): The Inter-Regional University of Industrial Engineering, Biotechnologies and Applied Sciences - or IRGIB-Africa University for short - is the model of a modern university that aims to combine theory and practice in the industrial world of engineering. The university in Benin is bilingually managed, linking the English-speaking and French-speaking areas of Africa.
- [News](https://access-centre.org/news/): News
- [Netzwerk](https://access-centre.org/netzwerk/): The University of Leipzig is the initiator of the ACCESS program and one of the oldest universities in Europe.
- [Kontakt](https://access-centre.org/kontakt/): Wir freuen uns, wenn Sie sich für ACCESS interessieren oder sich bei uns einbringen möchten. Hinterlassen Sie uns gerne eine Nachricht.
- [Projekt](https://access-centre.org/projekt/): The African Centre for Career Enhancement & Skills Support, or ACCESS, is an initiative of the University of Leipzig. We research about Africa's increasing education at the same time as the stagnation of opportunities in the labor market and develop new teaching methods to strengthen the employability of African students. To do this, we work together with companies, universities and students.
- [Home](https://access-centre.org/): ACCESS 2.0 builds on the achievements of ACCESS 1.0 to expand employability opportunities for students and graduates in partner universities and countries. Selected numbers below: 

## Veranstaltungen
- [ACCESS Research Conference and Summer School 2024 in Tunisia](https://access-centre.org/veranstaltungen/access-research-conference-and-summer-school-2024-in-tunisia/): The second ACCESS Summer School and Research Conference in 2024 will be hosted by the Tunis University and will take place from 01st - 05th of October 2024 in Hammamet, Tunisia. The conference will be held under the theme “Graduate Unemployment in Africa: Towards a Shift in Paradigm”. The event is funded by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) with financial support from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

## All FAQs
- [What we are working on](https://access-centre.org/sp_accordion_faqs/what-we-are-working-on/)