President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the importance of deeper university–industry collaboration, applied learning, and stronger public–private partnerships in driving Ghana’s innovation and economic transformation.
Sharing insights from his visit to Singapore on Tuesday, the President revealed that after delivering the opening keynote at the Africa Singapore Business Forum, he toured the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Biopolis, the country’s premier biomedical research hub.
At SIT, he observed how the university integrates work and study, collaborates with industry, and pursues applied research with tangible business impact. He noted that the institution’s new campus in the Punggol Digital District exemplifies how academia, industry, and the community can work hand-in-hand to prepare students for the future of work.
The President also toured Biopolis, which brings together leading public and private institutions across the life sciences research and development chain—from basic discovery to clinical development and medical technology.
Key lessons, he said, included the need to:
- Deepen university–industry partnerships to make graduates more work-ready and future-ready.
- Encourage applied learning, internships, and national-priority programmes.
- Strengthen public–private partnerships in life sciences and biotechnology.
- Focus research on solutions that create jobs and improve livelihoods.
President Mahama acknowledged former Education Minister and current Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, for initiating Ghana’s earlier efforts to align higher education with industry needs, stressing that the process must be sustained.
He expressed gratitude to the hosts at SIT and Biopolis, pledging that Ghana will work to build similar partnerships that accelerate progress in higher education, innovation, and healthcare.
