By Samuel Agyeman-Prempeh
To mark its 1-year anniversary, the University of Cape Coast’s Design Thinking & Innovation Hub organised an open house for staff, faculty, students and members of the community on Wednesday 5th April, 2023.
The one-day event which took place at the Emmanuel Adow Obeng central administration building, featured impressive activities including showcasing of businesses in its incubation programme, indoor entrepreneurship games, a clinic offering one on one advisory service on issues of entrepreneurship, financial management, career guidance and psychosocial support.
The over 200 participants present were enchanted and inspired as they interacted with beneficiaries of the digital hub who in themselves are members of UCC teams winning $30000 and $40000 respectively at the just ended Kosmos Innovation Centre Agritech Challenge Pro.
Perhaps, the all-important essence of the digital hub was underscored with the presence of key stakeholders namely; Vice Chancellor, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong and other directors & officers passing honoring the house.
Addressing participants on the purpose of gathering, director of the Design Thinking and Innovation Hub, Dr Mrs. Keren Naa Abeka Arthur indicated that the event had been created to share successes and key achievements of the hub in the past year and very importantly to unveil the many opportunities available at the hub to many who are yet to interface with it.
With a BSc from Ashesi University, MBA and PhD from University of Exeter, UK Dr. Keren is convicted that through its programmes, the hub has already started transforming individuals, businesses and very importantly students of the University who in themselves form a critical mass of society.
Acknowledging its partners; SIC, Hollard Insurance, Prudential Bank, Kosmos Innovation Centre, the director advocated for more organisation to reach out in funding, sponsorship and mentorship for the hub.
As a senior lecturer of the University of Cape Coast, she commended management and all staff for the mandate of the hub to provide professional skills development, business development support, business incubation and acceleration services, career support and community service through solving societal problems using entrepreneurship, design thinking and continuous improvement.
Moving forward, the hub is looking forward to working with more young entrepreneurs and focusing on the commercialisation of inventions and creative outputs in the University community. Interested person may contact the hub via d-hub@ucc.edu.gh & 0312299862.
