President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the importance of deepening university–industry partnerships to prepare Ghanaian graduates for the future of work, following his engagements in Singapore this week.
After delivering the opening keynote address at the Africa Singapore Business Forum on Tuesday, the President visited the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to study its applied-learning model and strong industry collaborations.
At SIT, students integrate work with study, with curricula built around applied research that delivers direct business impact. Its new campus in the Punggol Digital District reflects a tight integration of academia, industry, and the community to produce work-ready graduates.
President Mahama also toured Biopolis, Singapore’s premier biomedical research hub, which unites leading public and private institutions across the life sciences value chain — from basic discovery to clinical development and medical technology. He praised Biopolis as a model of how coordinated public–private partnerships can drive innovation and economic growth.
Sharing his reflections, the President noted key takeaways, including:
Deepening university–industry collaboration to ensure Ghanaian graduates are both work-ready and future-ready.
Expanding applied learning, internships, and programmes aligned with national priorities.
Strengthening public–private partnerships in life sciences and biotechnology.
Focusing research on solutions that create jobs and improve lives.
He acknowledged the groundwork laid by Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang during her tenure as Minister for Education in aligning Ghana’s higher education system with industry needs, stressing that the effort must be continued.
“We are grateful to our hosts at SIT and Biopolis for the insightful exchanges. We look forward to building partnerships that will help accelerate Ghana’s progress in higher education, innovation, and healthcare,” President Mahama stated.
