By Francis Ntow
Accra, June 19, GNA – The Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) has launched the eighth edition of its flagship Tertiary Business Sense Challenge (TBSC) to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
The initiative provides a platform to enhance financial literacy, foster entrepreneurship and develop practical business skills among students from tertiary institutions across the country.
Mr Ato Afful, Managing Director of GCGL, speaking at the launch, said the competition was aimed at equipping students to apply classroom knowledge to business challenges while preparing them for opportunities after school.
“You have to see every challenge as an opportunity to develop your thinking because the knowledge you gained in school had to be applied to solving real-life problems,” he told students.
Seventeen tertiary institutions will participate in zonal competitions before progressing to the national stage.
The South-West Zone comprises the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Koforidua Technical University (KTU) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The North-Mid Zone includes Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Christian Service University (CSU), University for Development Studies (UDS) and Tamale Technical University (TaTU).
The South-East Zone features Academic City University (ACity), Accra Technical University (ATU), Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), Heritage Christian University (HCU), Pentecost University (PU), University of Ghana (UG), Valley View University (VVU) and West End University (WEU).
The quarter-finals are scheduled between July 27 and August 3, semi-finals from August 3 to 17, with the grand finale on August 24.
Mr Franklin Sowa, Head of Marketing at GCGL, explained that the initiative was hinged on “taking the academic gun to the streets,” bridging the gap between lecture-hall learning and job-market skills.
He said the competition had helped contestants secure jobs with multinationals such as PwC and the Bank of America.
This year’s edition will feature mentorship, career conversations and mock interviews, supported by the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana (CIHRM).
Mr Frederick Kwaku Takyi, Head of Research and Innovation at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), said the event was important in assessing whether students were fit for the job market.
“It serves as a hotbed for critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students take what they’ve learned in classrooms and apply it to real challenges- the exact skills GTEC expects them to use when they move into the world of work,” he said.
Dr Maapa Quansah, Manager at PwC Ghana, pledged continuous support to GCGL in building the next generation of business leaders.
He encouraged participants to use the forum to learn, improve their confidence and teamwork.
“For you to do well, spend about 50 per cent of your awake time on personal studies, understand what you learn and ensure your mental and physical health,” he advised.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Francis Ntow