Accra, Ghana – 22 May 2025 – The Design & Technology Institute (DTI) has today handed over a refurbished and upgraded Precision Welding Demonstration Centre and Innovation Hub to Accra Technical University. This initiative aims to strengthen Industry-Academia collaboration in implementing Precision Quality (PQ) to enhance the delivery of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana. Precision Quality is about mindset change to embrace the value of precision industries and quality products and services in job creation. It focuses on precision in industry, services, and processes to ensure that goods and services meet world-class quality standards.

DTI, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the ‘Transforming Youth TVET Livelihoods’ project, is unveiling Accra Technical University as one of eight TVET institutions to be adopted to implement the Precision Quality (PQ) training programme. DTI is committed to gender equality and disability inclusion.  We will collaborate with four Technical Universities and four pre-tertiary technical institutes to attract more young women and individuals with disabilities into the project.

On 4th March 2025, DTI signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Accra Technical University to initiate the partnership between the two institutions. The partnership focuses on the following key areas:

• Integrate the Precision Quality curriculum into relevant courses to support the transition of graduates into the workforce.
• Support unemployed alumni and young individuals aged 16-35 by providing a six-month upskilling programme to assist them transition into industry.
• Enhance the university's Career Centre and offer resources and support to selected learners to establish small businesses.

Since then, fifteen Academic Scale Advisors (ASAs) and instructors have received specialised training to assist in the education of students following the PQ curriculum at the university. 766 students from various departments have enrolled into the precision quality programme for year one at ATU. Upon graduation, these students will be prepared to meet global industry standards and transition smoothly into the workforce.

A total of 100 ASAs across four technical universities will be trained over the next three years as part of the project.

The ATU Precision Welding Demonstration Centre and Innovation Hub has undergone changes and now features state-of-the-art precision hand tools and facilitation rooms that will be utilised to teach Precision Welding and Fabrication over the next three years. The project included the retooling of the Electrical and Electronics, Hotel and Hospitality Management, Welding and fabrication, Business Skills and professional Development, Fashion Design and Apparel, Kitting out and installations at an estimated cost of 2.1 million Ghana Cedis.

The Founder and President of DTI, Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, stated that the PQ curriculum is a product of the important collaboration between academia and industry professionals, carefully designed to equip young individuals with the essential skills needed for securing better job opportunities in the workplace. The roll out of the curriculum and the handing over of a state-of-the-art welding demonstration and Innovation Hub to Accra Technical University marks a significant milestone in maintaining consistent standards in Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) delivery at our technical universities. Ms. Swaniker further emphasised DTI's commitment to continuing its work with stakeholders to develop programmes that address the evolving needs of academia and industry, thereby contributing to sustainable socio-economic growth and development.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Accra Technical University, Eng. Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, emphasised: "The commissioning of the Demonstration Centre and Innovation & Incubation Hub marks a pivotal moment in our journey to redefine technical education at Accra Technical University. This collaboration with DTI, under the support of the Mastercard Foundation, is a direct response to our mandate under the Technical Universities Act (Act 922) – to deliver industry-relevant, competency-based training that meets the demands of Ghana’s labour market. Through the Precision Quality curriculum, we are not only equipping our students with globally competitive skills but also creating a practical bridge between the classroom and the world of work. We are grateful to DTI and the Mastercard Foundation for their visionary partnership, and we remain committed to ensuring that this facility becomes a centre of excellence for training, youth employment, and innovation."

The ‘Transforming Youth TVET Livelihoods’ project aims to train 31,540 young people in inclusive dual TVET and quality training, with a focus on women and persons with disabilities. Additionally, 50,467 youth will be supported in their transition to wage employment and entrepreneurship.

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 About Design & Technology Institute

The Design & Technology Institute (DTI) is a privately accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution established in 2016. It serves as a centre of excellence for job creation among youth through specialised training in Precision Welding and Fabrication, Design Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. The institute aims to transform the TVET livelihoods of young people for sustainable employment with the vision to become West Africa’s premier centre for industrial training and prototyping within the next ten years. Youth students aged 18 to 27 from 16 regions in Ghana are selected for enrichment programmes relevant to industry, which seasoned and experienced instructors deliver.

For more information on the institute, please visit: www.dtiafrica.com

About Accra Technical University

Accra Technical University (ATU), established in 1949 and converted into a Technical University in 2016 under Act 922, is one of Ghana’s premier institutions for technical and vocational education at the tertiary level. Located in the heart of Accra, ATU offers competency-based programmes in engineering, applied sciences, business, and the creative industry, and is committed to producing graduates who are both academically sound and industry-ready. In the 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings, ATU was ranked the best technical university in Ghana, 4th overall in the country, 18th in West Africa, and 43rd in Sub-Saharan Africa – a testament to its academic relevance, graduate impact, and leadership in applied research and innovation. ATU's vision is to be recognised as the top Technical University in Ghana, with a strong regional influence. With a legacy of excellence spanning over seven decades, the university has consistently contributed to Ghana’s industrial growth through impactful programmes. Its graduates are widely represented across various sectors, including manufacturing, energy, digital innovation, and policy leadership.

For more information on the university, please visit: https://atu.edu.gh.

About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation collaborates with visionary organisations to empower young people in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada to secure dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities. It is one of the largest private foundations in the world, with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Founded by Mastercard in 2006, the Foundation operates as an independent organisation with its own Board of Directors and management.

For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org  

About Young Africa Works

Young Africa Works is the Mastercard Foundation’s strategy to enable 30 million young people, particularly young women, across Africa to access dignified work. Africa will soon be home to the world’s largest workforce, with 375 million young people entering the job market by 2030. With the right skills, these young individuals will enhance Africa's global competitiveness and improve their own lives, as well as those of their communities. The Mastercard Foundation will implement Young Africa Works in ten African countries in collaboration with governments, the private sector, entrepreneurs, educators, and young people. The first phase of countries identified by the Mastercard Foundation includes Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nigeria.

Media Contacts

Design & Technology Institute

Charles Mensah, Media and Communication Consultant: cmensah@mech-consult.com      

Accra Technical University

Fausta Kilian Ganaa, Deputy Registrar/Director, Public Affairs: fkganaa@atu.edu.gh