The President of the African Council for Graduates (ACG), Mr. Thamsanqa Maqubela, has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, to discuss potential areas of collaboration aimed at promoting graduate employability and entrepreneurship.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, October 9, 2025, focused on how the Council and the UPSA could work together to bridge the gap between academia and industry through targeted initiatives that equip students and graduates with practical, career-ready skills.
Mr. Maqubela revealed that the African Council for Graduates, in collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, and the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, will in October launch a set of career readiness programmes designed to enhance graduate employability.
According to him, the initiatives include internship opportunities for 1,000 graduates to gain hands-on industry experience and vacation work placements for 5,000 students beginning from their second year of study.
“These career readiness programmes can be accessed digitally from campus or home through mobile phones for ease of participation,” Mr. Maqubela noted.
He emphasized that the interventions are part of the Council’s broader agenda to create sustainable employment pathways for Africa’s young graduates while promoting entrepreneurship and innovation.
Welcoming the delegation, Professor Mawutor commended the Council’s forward-looking initiatives and expressed UPSA’s readiness to partner in implementing the programmes.
He noted that the proposal aligns with UPSA’s distinctive mandate of providing both academic and professional education, particularly in entrepreneurship and industry-focused disciplines.
“UPSA is deeply committed to training students who not only excel in their academic fields but also possess the practical and entrepreneurial competencies to make meaningful contributions in the world of work,” Prof Mawutor stated.
The Vice-Chancellor further reiterated UPSA’s openness to partnerships that support its vision of producing graduates who are globally competitive and locally relevant.
The courtesy call forms part of the African Council for Graduates’ engagement tour to build stronger collaborations with tertiary institutions across the continent in promoting youth employment, innovation, and sustainable economic development.
