MTN Ghana has partnered with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) research, develop technology talent and promote locally developed business solutions.
The agreement will give students opportunities to tackle technical and operational challenges identified by the telecommunications operator, linking academic research with industry needs.
Under the arrangement, students in KNUST’s Department of Computer Science will develop solutions to MTN’s challenges as part of their final-year projects.
Company representatives are expected to assess the work, with outstanding projects potentially receiving recognition and opportunities for further development.
The partnership will introduce awards for the best graduating Computer Science student, the best graduating female student and the student producing the strongest AI project.
The AI award aims to recognise practical skills and encourage students to develop applications that address real-world problems. Promising projects could also gain exposure to MTN’s technical teams and industry stakeholders.
MTN Ghana said the initiative would help young developers apply their knowledge to practical challenges, expose them to industry expectations and help the company identify emerging talent.
KNUST vice-chancellor Professor Christian Agyare welcomed the collaboration, saying it would enable students and faculty members to apply academic knowledge to challenges in the telecommunications sector.
He highlighted the importance of recognising practical skills that may not be reflected in conventional academic performance. The AI award, he said, would encourage students to develop useful applications beyond classroom assignments.
Agyare also said the partnership could create employment opportunities, expressing hope that some participating students would be recruited by MTN after graduation.
The agreement comes as telecommunications companies increasingly use AI, data analytics and automation to improve network operations, customer service and digital products.
These technologies require skills in software engineering, data science, machine learning and systems development.
For MTN Ghana, the collaboration provides a potential avenue to identify emerging talent and test ideas with commercial or operational applications. For KNUST, it offers students a closer link between academic training and industry requirements.
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