Audit Partner and Financial Services Leader at Deloitte Ghana, Charlotte Forson-Abbey has urged the management of KNUST School of Business (KSB) to continue to advance technical and professional knowledge through the creation of a conducive environment for applied research, quality teaching and competence-based training, with a high impact on industry and business creation.

According to her, it is very important in bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Speaking at the launch of the 20 years anniversary celebrations of KSB, Mrs. Forson-Abbey, urged the students to take their academic work seriously, embrace innovation and exhibit professionalism to build a fruitful career.

“You should also note that career guidance is very important because it will help you to choose professions that suit your interests, aptitude and abilities”, she stressed.

She pointed out that Deloitte is open to supporting academia to bridge the gap between theory and practical training, adding that "Let’s also note that business education is an important vehicle for accelerating economic liberation".

Throwing light on the positive, enduring impact Deloitte makes, Mrs. Forson-Abbbey said Deloitte’s purpose is to make an impact that matters, adding, “It leads us to focus on accelerating equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity through all that we do”.

The theme for the occasion was “20 Years of Excellence in Business Education: Building Capability and Resilience for Sustainable Development”.

The Deloitte Audit Partner explained that business education is needed by students in the contemporary world because it develops life skills for economic success and helps students to enhance their skills and attitudes for career success, adding, sustainable development also helps to balance economic, environmental and social equity and justice.

She continued that Deloitte has demonstrated its commitment to supporting, empowering and inspiring students to choose the right careers for a better future, and this was showcased during the recent Volunteer Day, which took place concurrently across operations in Africa. The Ghanaian firm impacted thousands of students in the University of Professional Studies, Accra and the Accra Technical University.

The Deloitte staff provided career guidance and counselling to the students, teaching them to adopt the right skills - soft skills, critical thinking skills, adopting a positive attitude, emotional intelligence, technological skills, and the right network to succeed in a fast-changing world.

She concluded, saying, Deloitte will continue to provide career guidance and counselling that will inform and advise students about the professions to choose, whilst they prepare to journey into the corporate world, highlighting, the importance of making meaningful contributions beyond the firms’ core services and positively impacting the broader business ecosystem in which it operates.