The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has encouraged Southshore University College to collaborate with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that its programmes meet labour-market aspirations.

He said the University’s specialised research and innovation initiative, particularly in data science and artificial intelligence, would position Ghana as a competitive knowledge hub in Africa.

That, the Minister noted, supported the nation’s digitisation agenda and reinforced Ghana’s commitment to innovation-driven development.

Mr Iddrisu said this in a speech read on his behalf in Accra at the grand launch of the Southshore University College, formerly Dominion University College, on Saturday, on the theme: “From Africa, A New Light.”

He said the event marked a significant chapter, not only in the history of the University, but also in Ghana’s evolving higher education landscape.

Mr Iddrisu said the theme resonated with the Ministry’s policy direction, which encapsulates the shared belief that Ghana must move beyond the consumption of external knowledge and become a leading producer of ideas, innovation, and solutions for global challenges.

“This vision is consistent with national development frameworks that place education at the centre of industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

Mr Iddrissu said the Ministry was championing reforms that emphasised relevance, quality, equity, and accountability across all levels of education.

The Minister said Ghana’s tertiary education policy sought to promote institutions that combined academic excellence with innovation, ethical leadership, and practical problem solving.

He commended the University for its deliberate focus on higher learning, entrepreneurship, research, and character formation.

“The Ministry strongly supports educational models that move beyond theory to experiential models that empower students to build, innovate, and create value among the students,” he said.

He urged the Governing Council and management to continue to comply with regulatory standards, quality assurance mechanisms, and institutional accountability requirements as required by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.

Mr Iddrisu charged faculty staff to expand their instructional roles to include mentorship, research, and societal engagement, and recognised their contributions to upholding the highest standards of professionalism.

Prof. Felix Hammond, Chair of the University's Governing Council, said the transition marked a strategic repositioning aimed at strengthening innovation-driven education, leadership development, and global competitiveness.

He said the rebranding aligned with the University’s vision to become a modern, digital-first, and industry-aligned institution.

Dr Patrick Awuah, founder of Ashesi University, advised the institution’s leadership to rebrand it in line with its strategic vision to become globally competitive.

He urged the University to have the courage to overcome fear, saying: “You need courage to take on difficult tasks.”