The ACCESS International Ideas Summer School 2025 officially launched at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana, running from November 1st to November 10th, 2025. This pivotal event, held at the Amonoo-Neizer Conference Centre, unites academia, industry, and local partners to deepen the conversation on employability and industry collaboration key to sustaining practice-based learning in Africa and promoting employability of university graduates.
Focused on Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, the event directly addresses the youth unemployment challenge by seeking innovative solutions, together with industry.
A vibrant Kenyan delegation of postgraduate students drawn from ACCESS Kenya Affiliate Universities (MKU, Kabarak, Strathmore, and Maseno Universities) led by the ACCESS Kenya Coordinator, Dr. Henry Yatich participated and established new networks while showcasing student business ideas aimed at co-creating industry solutions both at home and in the region. Participants will present cutting-edge projects detailing how to improve skill sets and accelerate the development and formalization of SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) in the Global South. This is a crucial platform for generating practical insights into the global employment market.
The comprehensive programme included a mix of keynotes, team activities, and project work:
- Arrival and Campus Tour kicked off the event on November 1st and 2nd.
- The Opening Ceremony on Monday, November 3rd, features an address by KNUST Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asamoah David, ACCESS Director Prof. Dr. Utz Dornberger (ACCESS Director) and a keynote by Dr. Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodee, President of the Ghana Employers Association, on the theme.
- Tuesday, November 4th, focuses on Future-Ready Skills and building youth employability in the digital age, including sessions on bridging the skills gap and digital skills for the future economy.
- Wednesday, November 5th, is dedicated to Driving Productivity Through SME Innovation.
- Thursday, November 6th, addresses Decent Work & Inclusivity for Economic Growth and includes a session on pitching ideas and projects.
- The week culminates on Friday, November 7th, with the iN4iN Conference on “The Role of University Business Linkages in Bridging Skills for Decent Work for the Global South” , which will also feature presentations by Summer School participants.
- The programme wrapped up with an Excursion to locations like the Bonwire Kente Village and Manhyia Palace Museum on Saturday, November 8th, followed by an End of Summer School Party.
This comes on the heel of the ACCESS Kenya-Based Business Innovation Bootcamp that was held from October1 19th-24th October 2025, attracting 30 undergraduate students from 11 affiliate universities in Kenya. Following rigorous mentorship from industry players during the 1-week event, the top 10 innovations were supported to feature in the Africa-Korea camp at the Konza city, Kenya in October 31st, 2025.
Students were taken through the business model canvas and project management canvas which instrumental tools in business idea development and collaboration.
The next International Idea Summer School and IN4IN Conference will be held at Mount Kenya University early in 2027.
