The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources(CANR) and KNUST Career Service Centre (KCSC) in partnership with Design Technology Institute (DTI) is set to provide work-readiness skills to 15,000 students.
The initiative also seeks to create 31,000 job opportunities for graduates and youth, to bridge the academia-industry gap.
The project will involve conducting a comprehensive baseline survey and develop a sustainable plan to ensure the project’s long term impact. 9,500 artisans and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will also benefit from the training.
Participants will engage in a six-month precision internship programmes designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to operate and maintain various systems and processes.
The project aims to transform youth livelihoods by offering training in demand-driven skills, while fostering a business-oriented mindset.
Founder and President of Design & Technology Institute (DTI), Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, emphasized the importance of self-employment, noting agriculture as a major sector for job creation.
“The reality is that the government cannot employ all 25,000 students who graduate from this institution so our goal is for 60% of them to become self-employed, with agriculture being the largest sector for job creation.
“We want KNUST to promote the TVET agenda, to foster job creation, and to ensure that young people have access to dignified and fulfilling employment.
“We also want to see increased enrollment and smoother transitions. In addition, we will focus on critical soft skills and make sure we address any gaps,” she stated.
Ms. Swaniker added: “You already have a ready market. I remember when I was here, we used to buy everything from the commercial center—yogurt, various items from the school farm. This is the direction we are heading, and I see opportunities everywhere.
When we handle things in-house, it will save a lot of money. It’s time we stop outsourcing contracts; students are fully capable of managing these tasks.”
The provost of the College and co-principal investigator of the project, Prof. Dadson Awunyo-Vitor noted that the skills and lessons learnt will be integrated into the curriculum, benefiting future students in agriculture.
"We look forward to offering specialized training for women and vulnerable groups in startups. We will leverage KNUST's expertise to support this. Currently, our students are producing goods, but their main challenge is finding a market. Once they have access to a market, they will be able to increase production.
“All training and lessons learnt will be incorporated into the existing curriculum, ensuring that anyone who enters the field of agriculture in the future will benefit from the outcomes of this project," Prof. Vitor noted.
Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, expressed her support for the project and assuring the University’s commitment to working together to achieve the project's goals.
"We envision a future where our graduates are not just employees but employers, filling roles throughout the entire value chain, creating jobs at every step. If we train students only to sit and wait for limited job opportunities, especially in white-collar sectors, then we have a problem.
We want to be part of the solution, and I am pleased that with DTI, we have found the right partner. We are excited to have partners like you, and as the leader of the University, I assure you that we will walk and work with you every step of the way," Prof. Dickson stated.
The KNUST Career Services Centre will coordinate the selection, training, and internship placement of beneficiaries. The Centre will collaborate with the Business Development Unit to offer business incubation services to recipients of the business development fund.
Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of KNUST, also serves as the co-Principal Investigator (co-PI) of the project.
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