GIMPA and Project Management Institute (PMI) Sign MoU to Foster Academia, Industry Best Practices
By Joyce Boahemaa Fosu
GIMPA on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Project Management Institute (PMI) in a bid to foster the smooth transition of best practices from academia to industry. The signing took place at the Greenhill campus, GIMPA. Speaking at the event Prof. Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, the Rector of GIMPA, who could not hide his excitement about the partnership said GIMPA was set up just for such collaborations. ‘We were set up for the capacity building of the public sector. We have grown into working with both the public and the private sectors to enhance the practical value of the issues, concepts, and ideas that are shared in our classrooms.’ He further stated that the collaboration was very important because it would help to bring the practice orientation of Project Management into the classrooms while sending the conceptual dimensions in the classrooms to the practice in the industry. ‘That is precisely what GIMPA intends to do,’ he reiterated.
Prof, Bonsu said GIMPA was poised for action and was looking forward to an effective collaboration with PMI to enhance the quality of students produced; students that are ready for industry. The Rector was supported by the Deputy Rector of GIMPA, Prof. Martin Morgan Tuuli. The President of PMI Mr. Frank Owusu Asamoah emphasized the urgent need for academia and industry collaboration to eliminate the long-standing narrative that seems to suggest the existence of a vast variance between what is learned in the classroom and what is actually practiced in the industry.
‘This collaboration, therefore, is the beginning of a new paradigm shift where best practices will be brought to bear in the field of work,’ he added.
Mr. Asamoah thanked GIMPA for the opportunity adding that the collaboration was a historic one as this year marked 12 years of PMI’s existence in Ghana with over 1,500 members. The immediate past President of PMI, Ms. Jumoke Lafenwa was also in attendance to support the initiative. The Secretary of the Institute, Dr. Victoria Kunbour mentioned that the MoU was indicative that GIMPA was ever ready to work with industry. She further thanked PMI for the partnership. Prof. Ebenezer Adaku, Head of the Management Science Department, GIMPA stated that a partnership such as this would contribute to helping the Department realise its vision of being positioned as the leading Management Science Department in Ghana and beyond.
According to him, in the quest of achieving this vision, the department would be guided by four main core values namely; passion, integrity excellence, and service. He expressed his appreciation to the faculty and staff of the Management Science Department and was particularly thankful to Dr. Adwoa Fianko-Yirenkye for being the brain behind the project. The Dean of the GIMPA Business School, Prof. Samuel Famiyeh, was also present to support
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