Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – The FANAKA International University College (FIUC) has partnered with the Ghana Investment and Securities Institute (GISI) to align academic training with industry requirements and equip graduates with practical skills for the job market.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two institutions in Accra on Thursday seeks to align FIUC’s Master of Science (MSc) in Finance programme with professional standards and the practical requirements of Ghana’s capital market.
The collaboration is expected to enhance students’ professional development, expose them to industry practices and create pathways to relevant professional qualifications and licensing.
Professor Samuel Agyei-Ampomah, the Rector of FIUC, said the agreement reflected the university’s commitment to preparing students for workplace realities.
Higher education, he said, had long faced criticism over the gap between academic theory and the practical demands of industry.
“Today, at FANAKA, we declare that the era of the isolated ivory tower is officially over,” he said, adding that universities needed to equip graduates with practical competencies alongside theoretical knowledge.
Prof. Agyei-Ampomah said the partnership would strengthen the MSc in Finance programme in three key areas: professional licensing, international mobility, and curriculum development.
Students would be prepared for relevant professional examinations and could benefit from exemptions, subject to applicable requirements.
The collaboration would also expose students and faculty members to developments in modern asset classes, corporate governance and digital financial frameworks.
“True academic excellence must be measured by market readiness, and a postgraduate degree should not merely be a credential on a wall, but a powerful catalyst for a career,” he said.
Mr Alexander Williams, Chief Executive Officer of GISI, said the agreement would establish a structured link between academic education and professional training.
The partnership, he said, would promote curriculum benchmarking, practitioner engagement, assessment benchmarking, student professional development, research dialogue and capacity building in the securities market.
It would also help students identify professional career pathways within the financial sector, he added.
Professor Kwesi Aning, Chairman of the FIUC Governing Council, said the agreement marked a shift from traditional academic training towards a model that integrated education with industry needs.
The Governing Council would provide the institutional support, resources and governance structures needed to ensure the effective implementation of the agreement, he noted.
The partnership is expected to strengthen ties between academia and the financial services industry and prepare graduates to contribute to Ghana’s capital market and broader economic development.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Muniratu Akweley Issah
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