Ghana and Poland explore partnership to strengthen education

Ghana and Poland are exploring an education partnership to strengthen university cooperation, technical training and joint research, with both countries seeking opportunities to share expertise and support economic development.

The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, said the proposed partnership would create opportunities for students, teachers and researchers while strengthening relations between the two countries.

Speaking at a meeting with a Polish government delegation, Dr Apaak identified higher education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), science, technology and research as key areas for collaboration.

“Education is a relatively low-cost form of cooperation that builds lasting people-to-people links. Its benefits flow into trade, technology and health,” he stated.

The proposed partnership would include more master’s and doctoral scholarships for Ghanaian students in Poland, reciprocal opportunities for Polish students in Ghana, semester exchanges and joint degree programmes between selected universities.

Potential collaborations include partnerships between the University of Mines and Technology and AGH University in Poland in mining and resource management, as well as between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences in agriculture and food systems.

He also proposed cooperation in technical education through curriculum development, training of trainers, applied research and industrial placements with Polish companies operating in Ghana.

The initiative could help equip young people with practical skills relevant to employment.
“TVET reform is central to our response to youth unemployment,” Dr Apaak said.

Other proposed areas include teacher education, renewable energy, agricultural technology, digital learning and research into tropical diseases, food security and mining remediation.

Dr Apaak said Ghana could offer Poland access to West African educational institutions, an English-language learning environment and research opportunities in agriculture, health and mining.

To advance the proposal, he called for the drafting of a bilateral education memorandum of understanding, the appointment of focal persons in both ministries and the identification of priority university partnerships.

He also emphasized that, the mutually beneficial partnership would strengthen education and deepen relations between the two countries.

“If we design this partnership to be reciprocal, well-funded and focused on shared priorities, it will improve learning, strengthen both our economies and deepen the friendship between our peoples,” he said.