By Elizabeth PUNSU
KNUST Business School (KSB) is poised to bridge the employability gap and enhance competency-based training, as well as committing to strengthening practical education in entrepreneurship, IT, and soft skills, the Dean of the School, Prof Professor Ahmed Agyapong has indicated.
Professor Agyapong emphasized the importance of competency-based training, industry partnerships, and technological advancements in maintaining the School’s relevance in the global arena.
He urged all stakeholders, government, industry, alumni, and philanthropists—to support the School’s initiatives, particularly in establishing world-class training centers and expanding opportunities for students through initiatives like the Endowment Fund.
Additionally, Prof Ahmed noted that, beyond faculty challenges, unemployment and underemployment among graduates remain critical national issues.
While KSB graduates are academically excellent and globally competitive, employer feedback from tracer studies according to Prof. Ahmed, highlights deficiencies in essential employability skills—particularly in technical, Information Technology (IT), and soft skills. This skills gap, which is prevalent across Ghanaian tertiary institutions, limits graduates’ ability to secure and thrive in decent job opportunities.
“This requires dedicated infrastructure—ICT labs, skills training centers, and Al labs—as well as faculty development programs in emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (Al) and industry-relevant software. Facilitating faculty exchange programs with corporate partners and global institutions will further enrich knowledge transfer and practical exposure,” he added.
Prof Ahmed Agyapong made these revelations among others at the official launch of 20th anniversary celebration of the KNUST School of Business recently in Kumasi which signify two decades of excellence, resilience, and unwavering dedication to quality business education.
Under the theme, “20 Years of Excellence in Business Education: Building Capability and Resilience for Sustainable Development,” the School commemorated its achievements and outlined a vision for the future during a grand anniversary launch held at the School in Kumasi.
Activities planned to mark the anniversary include: Health screening, a symposium, an inter-departmental debate, and various social impact initiatives such as donations to community organisations and health centers, tree planting, and clean-up initiatives. Additionally, a weeklong exhibition will be held, showcasing contributions from the industry, departments, and students.
Other key events include international webinars on business development, a skills development workshop, a job fair & assessment center, a talent & awards night, and an alumni homecoming featuring a “Night of Stories, climaxing with a major thanksgiving ceremony.
Established in 2005, the KSB was founded with a mission to provide world-class business education and foster socio-economic development through innovative teaching, research, and industry collaboration.
Two decades later, the School emerged as one of Africa’s leading business schools, producing graduates who are making significant contributions to the country’s economic transformation and beyond.
Speaking at the launch of the anniversary celebrations activities to highlight achievements and activities of the School, the Dean of the School, Professor Ahmed Agyapong, reflected on the School’s remarkable journey.
“From a modest beginning with just eight lecturers, including only two PhD holders, we have grown to a faculty of 54 members, including five full professors, 11 associate professors, 12 senior lecturers, and 23 lecturers—all holding terminal degrees,” he highlighted.
The school’s student population has also seen exponential growth, with its postgraduate programs producing an average of 1,000 graduates annually over the past decade. This makes KSB the largest contributor to KNUST’s postgraduate output.
Additionally, the school has played a pivotal role in the success of the Institute of Distance Learning (IDL), particularly in graduate and Bachelor’s training, while significantly boosting internally generated funds (IGF) for the University.
Meanwhile, the Provost of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Charles Ofosu Marfo, who was speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, at the launch, praised KSB for its enduring commitment to academic excellence and its role in producing graduates who are making a difference both locally and globally.
“From its humble beginnings, KSB has grown into a leading business school, and its success is a testament to resilience, visionary leadership, and a steadfast commitment to quality education,”
The anniversary celebration was heavily attended by faculty members, students, alumni, industry leaders, and government representatives, all of whom expressed their pride in KSB’s achievements and pledged their support for its future endeavors.
