BTU Strengthens Strategic Partnerships to Advance Youth Skills Development in Northern Ghana

From Samuel Adadi Akapule, Bolgatanga

Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) on Monday, November 17, 2025, hosted a high-level stakeholder engagement at its main campus, Sumbrungu, to review progress on two transformative youth development initiatives aimed at strengthening technical and vocational education while improving economic opportunities for young people, particularly young women, in northern Ghana.

The two projects; Design Technology Institute (DTI) – Precision Quality (PQ) Curriculum Integration Project and the World University Service of Canada(WUSC) Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTIVATE)– – Agriculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ATVET) are funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented in collaboration with the WUSC and the Design Technology Institute (DTI).

As a core implementing institution, BTU plays a central role in aligning the projects with its academic structures, training delivery, and broader mandate to drive industry-centered and transformative education.

The PQ Curriculum Integration Project seeks to embed Precision Quality standards into BTU’s instructional systems, ensuring that graduates acquire industry-relevant competencies needed to meet the demands of modern workplaces.

Complementing this, the ACTIVATE–ATVET project focuses on enhancing agriculture-related technical and vocational training to equip youth with practical skills for improved employability and sustainable livelihoods.

Together, these initiatives form part of a broader mission to deliver high-quality, market-ready training that empowers young people to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Professor Daniel Oppong-Sekyere, Dean of the School of Agriculture at Bolgatanga Technical University who is also the Board Chairman for Competency-Based Training (CBT) programmes, stated that the DTI- PQ project which started in the 2024-2025 Academic Year and expected to end in 2026-2027 Academic Year is contributing positively to ensuring quality teaching support, retooling BTU laboratories, sponsoring internship of students who receive PQ training and sponsorship for annual job fairs, among others.

On the part of the ACTIVATE–ATVET project, Professor Oppong-Sekyere explained the five-year project which kick-started in 2024 and will end in 2028 was equally contributing to equipping the youth with practical skills for improved employability and sustainable livelihoods.

Prof. Peter Osei Boamah, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of BTU expressed deep appreciation to WUSC, DTI, and the Mastercard Foundation for their continuous support and reaffirmed BTU’s commitment to ensuring the successful execution of both projects.

He stressed that the implementation of the two projects align closely with the university’s mission to deliver quality education, industry-driven training, and transformative learning experiences.

He further indicated that BTU would continue to uphold high standards, maintain effective communication with partners, and leverage the synergies between the PQ and ACTIVATE–ATVET projects to maximize their overall impact.

The meeting gathered representatives from all the partnering institutions, including WUSC Country Director, Mrs. Appiah Wiafe Adofo and Mr. Yussif Adams, the Northern Regional Coordinator for the ACTIVATE-ATVET project, project team members; Nelson Gulbi, Doreen Mbabazize, Edwin Fayorsey, Joanne Buo, Maureen, and Mr. Mohit Sharma,. BTU was represented by its Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Peter Osei Boamah, alongside Senior Staff from the Industrial Liaison Office, the School of Agriculture, the School of Engineering and Built Environment, the Graduate School, the School of Applied Science and Arts, and the School of Business and Management Studies.

Representatives from the Mastercard Foundation, the primary funder of both initiatives, also participated actively in the deliberations.

In their remarks, officials from the Mastercard Foundation, notably Ms. Joan Buo, Edwin Fayorsey, and Doreen, commended BTU, WUSC, and DTI for demonstrating a strong commitment to effective implementation, noting that the progress recorded so far reflects the strength of the partnership.

They emphasized that the Foundation remains dedicated to supporting interventions that create lasting opportunities for young people and enable them, especially young women, to become agents of transformation within their communities.

The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge from all partners to strengthen collaboration and sustain momentum toward achieving the project objectives.

Participants emphasized the importance of teamwork, innovation, and shared responsibility in delivering sustainable development outcomes for the region.

The gathering reaffirmed the critical role of strategic partnerships in empowering young people, improving technical and vocational training, and driving economic and social transformation in northern Ghana.

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