Coventry University Holds Masterclass On Entrepreneurship And Employability

Coventry University, a public research university based in England in partnership with the Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) and African Institute for Transformational Entrepreneurship (AITE), organized an entrepreneurship and employability masterclass to equip the youth mostly students on becoming successful entrepreneurs in future.
The masterclass provided participants a platform to interact and share ideas with alumni of Coventry University. Held in Accra on Saturday 29^th April, 2017, two insightful sessions were held with speakers from Coventry University and the British Council, Ghana.
The first session led by Mr. Simon Hill, Lecturer in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship at Coventry University, presented insights into innovation, knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, leadership, socio-economic development, and policy formulation, all which are courses that are provided by the African Institute for Transformational Entrepreneurship, (AITE).
Mr. Gideon Brefo, a representative from the British Council Ghana, led the second session and offered insights on topics based on the recent report Universities, Employment and Inclusive Development: Repositioning Higher Education in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. This masterclass presentation took a valuable look at the qualities employers’ value in graduates including knowledge in field of study, ethics and integrity, problem solving, critical thinking, ability to work in a culturally diverse environment and work experience. Being a successful entrepreneur, Gideon also shared his entrepreneurship experience with participants.
Further to the training, participants took part in a personal branding exercise after which a selected few were given the opportunity to present an elevator pitch that could be used at interviews or networking events.
More, a graduate of Coventry’s International Terrorism masters course and the Executive Director of West Africa Centre for Counter- Extremism (WACCE), Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar during a press briefing after the masterclass, shared his experience on how he stopped a young man joining ISIS with just hours to spare, and of his ongoing commitment to fighting terrorism.
“Last year I saved a young man’s life. He had been radicalised online and was on his way to join the terrorist group ISIS after he spent time online looking for meaning in his life.
“Just a day before leaving to join the group he watched my TV outreach programme on counter-radicalization – that was what changed everything and he changed his mind.
“West Africa is one of the deadliest regions for terrorism. My plans are to expand my counter terrorism work to include the entire West Africa region, helping to dissuade vulnerable groups and individuals from engaging in violent extremism and falling into the void of terrorist recruitment“.
Dr. Osei Kofi Darkwa, President of GTUC & a Senior Member of Staff at Coventry University said that the two institutions have been in a collaborative partnership since 2010 offering high standard Master’s programmes.
He added that “our collaboration has given a number of students the advantage of international opportunities, while based in Ghana. Students have the option to graduate at GTUC or Coventry University at the end of their studies, and several also choose to join CU Summer Schools in Coventry during their degree”.
Madam Jane Debra, President for Coventry University Alumni, Ghana Chapter, encouraged participants to cultivate the habit of seeking advice during challenges.
The masterclass ended with a networking ceremony which brought together business experts like and executives from Coventry University.
Editor’s Note
Coventry is a public research university in the city of Coventry, England. The University has a proud tradition as a provider of high quality education and a focus on applied research. The university is in academic partnership with a number of institutions across the world including Ghana Telecom University College in Ghana (GTUC).