UPSA Vice Chancellor charts bold vision for academia-industry collaboration at ICBMED@10

Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, has reaffirmed the university’s commitment to redefining higher education by deepening collaboration between academia and industry to drive innovation and business resilience in emerging economies.

Delivering the keynote address at the 10th edition of the International Conference on Business Management and Entrepreneurial Development (ICBMED), Prof. Mawutor declared that “ICBMED is not just an academic conference—it is a flagship research platform that underscores UPSA’s role as a leader in transformative education.”

The two-day event, held on April 29 and 30, 2025, at the UPSA Auditorium, brought together scholars, policymakers, industry leaders, and students under the theme “A Decade of Progress: Bridging Academia and Industry for Business Resilience in Emerging Economies.”

Prof. Mawutor outlined a bold strategic direction for UPSA, emphasising curriculum innovation, entrepreneurship development, and policy leadership as the university’s tools for real-world impact.

“We have restructured our academic programmes to integrate entrepreneurial training, digital skills, and practical business problem-solving,” he said. “Through our Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, we have supported over 200 startups, many of which now operate in key sectors of the economy.”

He further highlighted the university’s influence on national discourse through initiatives such as the UPSA Policy Roundtable, Business Seminars, and Economic Forums, which continue to shape policy and drive sustainable business transformation.

As UPSA marks a decade of ICBMED, the Vice Chancellor challenged participants to look to the future. “The next frontier is to translate research into tangible business innovations, strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems, bridge the digital divide, and advance joint research that addresses Africa’s economic realities,” he noted.

The conference also featured key contributions from industry stakeholders and education leaders. Prof. Smile Dzisi, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Education Service, spoke on the education sector’s efforts to produce employable graduates, while Mr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), highlighted initiatives aimed at aligning academic outcomes with industry demands.

Mr. David Afflu, Managing Director of GBfoods, encouraged students to embrace critical thinking, calling it “a core requirement for success in industry today.”

The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Dr. Mrs. Juliana Akushika Andoh, who praised the contributions of speakers, participants, sponsors, and volunteers.

From its humble beginnings in a small lecture room to becoming a recognized international platform, ICBMED has grown into a dynamic forum for research, dialogue, and collaboration. At the heart of its success, UPSA’s leadership continues to push boundaries, ensuring that academic institutions remain relevant and responsive to real-world challenges.

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