Ghana risks falling behind in the global race for innovation and digital competitiveness unless Technical Universities accelerate efforts to embed artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into teaching, research and skills development.
That message took centre stage at the Seventh Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture Series held at the George Afeti Auditorium of Ho Technical University (HTU), where academics, industry players and students gathered to examine how higher education institutions can remain relevant in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
The lecture series, established to promote career-focused technical and vocational education, serves as a platform for discussions on emerging trends influencing industry, innovation and workforce development. This year’s event was held under the theme, “Business Practice Education and Research in the Era of AI: Implications for Technical Universities in Ghana.”
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Dr. Ron S. J. Tuninga, Rector of Wittenborg University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, said Artificial Intelligence was rapidly transforming industries, business models and labour markets worldwide, creating an urgent need for Ghana’s Technical Universities to rethink their educational and research priorities.
According to him, AI offers significant opportunities to boost productivity, improve business efficiency, lower operational costs and strengthen data-driven decision-making. However, he cautioned that institutions that fail to align their programmes, research activities and skills training with technological advances risk becoming increasingly irrelevant in a highly competitive global economy.
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“Technical Universities should become co-creators of innovation ecosystems by developing research partnerships, supporting new industrial models, and producing graduates with the skills required by modern businesses,” he said.
Prof. Tuninga stressed that future economic competitiveness would depend on institutions’ ability to equip students with multidisciplinary skills that combine technology, business, entrepreneurship, ethics, and problem-solving.
He advocated curriculum reforms that incorporate AI, machine learning, data analytics, critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning to prepare graduates for emerging job markets.
The education expert said lifelong learning would become increasingly important as technological advances continue to reshape industries, requiring workers to regularly upgrade their skills.
He therefore called for more flexible and modular learning systems that support reskilling and upskilling throughout an individual’s career.
Prof. Tuninga observed that AI could unlock substantial economic opportunities for Ghana and the wider African continent by improving productivity, fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and expanding access to underserved markets.
However, he identified several challenges that could limit the continent’s ability to fully benefit from AI, including inadequate digital infrastructure, shortages of specialised skills, limited research ecosystems, weak data governance frameworks, and overreliance on foreign technologies.
He also highlighted the need for local datasets and indigenous AI applications tailored to Africa’s development priorities and business environment.
“The future of economic growth and competitiveness will depend on how effectively institutions, businesses, and governments harness these technologies while building local capacities,” he said.
As part of efforts to deepen collaboration between academia and industry, Prof. Tuninga announced plans for the first African Round Table on Business Practice Education and Research in 2027.
The platform is expected to bring together researchers, policymakers, businesses, and public sector leaders from across West Africa to explore practical solutions to the opportunities and challenges emerging from technological transformation.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, said AI was creating new opportunities for productivity and innovation across both academic and business sectors.
He noted that institutions of higher learning must continuously engage with emerging technologies to remain relevant and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“Understanding AI and its applications is no longer optional. It is essential if institutions and businesses are to remain competitive and make a meaningful impact in the global economy,” he said.
Prof. Honyenuga disclosed that HTU was exploring ways to integrate AI and other emerging technologies into its curricula, strengthen research capacity, improve teaching and learning outcomes, and deepen collaboration with industry and international partners.
He said such initiatives would help produce graduates equipped with the digital and technical skills required to drive innovation, support business growth, and contribute to Ghana’s long-term economic transformation.
