Towards Digital Marketing in Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Ghana
AgroTrain is a collaborative project co-funded by the European Union with a total funding of €394,477
Project Summary
Agriculture is a vital occupation for youth and women in rural Ghana, employing about 52% of the labour force and contributing around 20% to the GDP. Nevertheless, around 1.2 million individuals in the country experience food insecurity, and the local food supply is currently facing demands beyond its capacity. Persistent challenges include low productivity, climate change, and restricted market access. To address these challenges, a consortium with the support of EU partners will establish two AgroTrain centres within selected vocational education and training (VET) institutions in Ghana.
The primary objective of these centres is to promote the integration of digital skills within low-tech agriculture. The centres will conduct practical training and research, develop educational curricula, and train youth, women, and individuals with disabilities in agro-business and digital skills. Moreover, the centres will foster collaboration between stakeholders and technical vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, thereby establishing vital connections among all participants in the agri-food value chain. A focus will be placed on precision farming, techniques utilising the IoT, AI, and geospatial technology. The project will engage with two TVET universities and one private entity in Ghana. Some of them have previously benefited from EU-supported capacity-building initiatives in agricultural technical and vocational education and training (ATVET).
Combining Precision Agriculture (PA) and Agrarian Trade & Marketing through vocational education will help prepare to use data-driven methods. These methods will improve market access, ensure fair prices, and support sustainable supply chains. By blending PA technologies with strategic marketing, VET programmes will enable farmers, agripreneurs, and agribusiness professionals to enhance product quality, traceability, and logistics. This approach will lead to greater profitability and resilience in modern agriculture. The initiative will develop six demand-oriented courses, including eLearning materials focused on innovative agri-food technologies. Each local university partner will offer at least one course for students and professionals engaged in the agri-food value chain.
Project Aim and Objectives
Main Project Objective
The main objective of this project is to enhance the productivity, sustainability, and innovation of the agricultural sector by integrating digital skills. This will be achieved by establishing 2 AgroTrain centres in Ghana that will serve as centres of excellence for training, training material development, networking, and agribusiness incubation in Ghana. The 2 Agro-Tech centres will be stationed in two VET-provider universities in Ghana.
The specific objectives are:
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1
Establish a network and exchange of good practices (start with 6 partners as a baseline and will be expanded to over 50 partners during project execution);
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2
TVET system requirements analysis in GH in the Agri-Food sector: generating a comprehensive report including current status, challenges and gaps, training resources, required curriculum or appropriate technology and eLearning experiences, and experience in university-business cooperation.
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3
Establish Innovative Centres (a total of 2 centres) in all GH university partners (AgroTrain centre) to conduct training and vocational courses (to improve the lack of skilled human resources in GH): One of the missions of the AgroTrain centre is to empower students working in agriculture sector by using innovative technology (which loves smart tools) which will increase the usage of technology and skilled human employment and workers in the whole society.
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4
We will design and develop six vocational courses, including eLearning materials, focused on innovative agri-food technologies, delivered in cooperation with universities and agro companies in the EU. Each university will create one course on innovative tools for precision agriculture and another course on agrarian trade and marketing. As digital farming practices reshape supply chains, the connection between precision agriculture (PA) and agrarian trade is increasingly important. Key links between these areas include enhanced productivity and sustainability. These topics will be further explored in the developed courses (for details, see T2.3 in WP2).
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5
Deliver two courses (both in-person and online) from the six developed courses for students, staff, and professionals engaged with stakeholders in the agri-food value chain.
Project Partners
Collaborating institutions making AgroTrain possible
AAMUSTED
AAMUSTED is Ghana's Premier Public TVET and Entrepreneurial Development Teacher Education University.
Our Mandate
- Provide higher education in technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial training to develop skilled manpower for job creation and economic development
- Train and provide teachers with the relevant competence for teaching in technical and vocational education and training institutions
- Train and provide teachers with the relevant competence for teaching entrepreneurial development
- Develop strong linkages between the University and (i) industry, or (ii) the community, to ensure the holistic training of teachers
Mission
To train and provide relevant TVET and entrepreneurial development teachers and other professionals for TVET institutions and industry and promote research and innovation for educational policy and economic development.
Vision
To be a world-class socially responsible TVET and Entrepreneurial Development Teacher Education University.
Core Values
- • Excellence with Integrity
- • Education for Work and Development
- • Creativity, Innovation and Invention
- • Collaboration and Teamwork
- • Entrepreneurial Development
- • Gender Equity, Social Inclusiveness and Diversity
INT@E UG - Innovative Technologies and Education
INT@E UG is a German firm which provides vocational training, training innovative computer and medical technology, knowledge management, mobile learning, e-learning and software training, collaborative research and innovation, quality assessment, organizational analysis and organizational development to help education institutions of all kinds achieve greater excellence, navigate change, Knowledge transfer and strengthen the University-Enterprise linkage, and drive more powerful partnerships.
Int@E UG experts have a long track record experience in supporting reform processes in the field of Higher Education in third countries including the participation in several EU Programs such as Tempus and Erasmus Plus "OPATEL", "MediTec", "Job-JO", "Edu4ALL", "AgroTec" and AgroTrain. Int@E as an expert partner helps in organization of transfer of experience of current training to partners in the field of agriculture, Sport, Digital Marketing and AI.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
KNUST stands as Africa's premier powerhouse for Science, Technology, and Engineering. It specializes in high-level technological research, renewable energy, climate science, and sustainable industrial development.
Vision
To be globally recognized as the Premier Centre of Excellence in Africa for teaching in Science and Technology for development.
Mission
To provide an environment for teaching, research, and entrepreneurship training in Science and Technology for the industrial and socio-economic development of Ghana and Africa.
Core Values
- Leadership in Innovation and Technology: Pioneering solutions for the modern world
- Culture of Excellence: Maintaining the highest standards in academia and research
- Integrity and Stewardship: Ensuring transparency and responsible resource management
- Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Fostering an inclusive environment for global scholars
Agrigrowth Africa Association (AAA)
Agrigrowth Africa specializes in Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (ATVET), agribusiness incubation, and the Business Transformative Cycle (BTC) for SMEs.
Vision
To transform African agriculture through innovation, "growing people" to become the next generation of agri-food leaders.
Mission
To leverage research and innovation for informed advocacy and business development in sustainable agribusiness, renewable energy, and community development.
Core Values
- Commitment: Sincere involvement in the development of rural livelihoods
- Empowerment: Building capacity for self-sustenance
- Humanity: Placing human beings at the center of every intervention
- Performance: Delivering tangible, result-oriented agricultural solutions
Poznan University of Life Sciences (PULS)
PULS is a leading European "Green University" specializing in life sciences, biotechnology, environmental protection, and the "Farm to Fork" strategy.
Vision
To be a leader in inventions and innovations that tackle the global challenges of sustainable development and the climate crisis.
Mission
To advance natural sciences through world-class research and academic teaching that impacts social and economic reality on a regional and international scale.
Core Values
- Tradition and Modernity: Building on 150 years of heritage with cutting-edge technology
- Excellence in Research: Setting new directions in ecology and wood science
- Sustainability: Dedication to the European Green Deal and biodiversity
- Collaboration: Openness to international scientific partnerships
AgriWatch BV
AgriWatch is a Netherlands-based high-tech consultancy specializing in Geospatial Intelligence, Earth Observation, and Precision Agriculture.
Vision
To empower global agriculture through data-driven decision-making, adapting food production to a rapidly changing climate.
Mission
To provide reliable, high-resolution geodata and knowledge-based services that support environmental management and sustainable farming.
Core Values
- Innovation: Creating world-first sensor technologies (like the coSpectroCam)
- Curiosity: Identifying measurable solutions for complex environmental problems
- Partnership: Working as a collaborative team with universities and SMEs
- Ambition: Performing above expectations to drive the digital agricultural revolution
Disclaimer
This project has been funded with support from the European Union. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the EU cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Interested in Learning More?
Explore our project milestones and deliverables to see how AgroTrain is transforming digital marketing education in Ghana.