MTN Ghana Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to promote telecommunications research and innovation at the university.

The agreement would enhance collaboration between the two institutions to support research, develop and nurture students pursuing engineering programmes.

The signing of the MOU also marked the official launch of the MTN Telecoms and Innovations Fund with GHC 300,000.00 to be disbursed by MTN with GHC 60,000 annual payments over the five- year period.

Mrs Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Services Executive, speaking at the ceremony, said: ‘There is an increasing demand for enthusiastic graduates, who already have a sense of what they can do to contribute to industry growth.”

She said the initiative represents industry and academia joining forces towards a common goal of building capacity and preparing students for the job market.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice Chancellor KNUST, said: “It is worth noting that though KNUST seeks to pursue academic excellence, it cannot be attained by our institution alone.”

He said it is for this reason that the University was grateful for the partnership, saying management and staff are very enthusiastic about the innovation fund.

“We hope that this will mark the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship and the output of this investment to benefit the larger society,” he added.

The partnership also includes an arrangement under which MTN would facilitate a number of internship placements for third year engineering students for supervised training during the long vacation.

The Foundation would support the programme by arranging with relevant partner organisations for placement.