GLIDA has launched three professional training programmes aimed at bridging the gap between academic education and the practical skills required by industry, its Founder and President, Riffath-Yakub Abubakar, has said.
The programmes, which opened for applications on 16 October, cover Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy, Brand Development and Public Relations and Corporate Governance and Diplomacy. Applications are expected to close on 16 November, with the institution’s maiden cohort scheduled to begin in January.
Speaking during an interview session, Mr Abubakar said GLIDA was established to complement conventional academic institutions by equipping young people and professionals with competencies that are increasingly relevant to the changing demands of the job market.
He said many skills required in the workplace were not adequately covered by traditional academic programmes, creating the need for professional training that focuses on practical industry requirements.
“Going into the future, the traditional and conventional way of acquiring competence is changing, and we have to look into the future, what those skills that are going to be more and more relevant for the industry,” he said.
Mr Abubakar said GLIDA had between 17 and 18 programmes in its portfolio, with the three launched on 16 October selected for the pilot phase.
He explained that prospective participants could apply through the institution’s website: www.glida-edu.org, by reviewing the available programmes and selecting their preferred courses during the application period.
The programmes are structured into four certification pathways: a one-month entry-level certification, a three-month professional-level certification, a six-month advanced professional certification and a nine-month diploma programme.
However, Mr Abubakar said the diploma programme would not be introduced immediately, with implementation planned for the institution’s sixth or seventh year.
He said GLIDA also intended to expand beyond Ghana by engaging other institutions and countries, arguing that the global economy required cross-border collaboration and international professional networks.
As part of its international exposure programme, participants will travel to Malaysia for three weeks after completing their training in Ghana.
The visit will include a one-week international certification programme in international trade, finance and investment, as well as two weeks of business-to-business engagement to explore opportunities in franchising, partnerships and other commercial activities.
Mr Abubakar said the initiative would allow participants to establish international connections and explore business opportunities before returning to Ghana.
He added that GLIDA had representation from 60 countries as of the launch.
The institution also plans to introduce scholarship opportunities through partnerships with other organisations to support young people and professionals who face financial constraints in pursuing further training.
According to Mr Abubakar, GLIDA will approach institutions to provide scholarship funding, while offering them value in return through its research activities, which are designed to serve industry needs.
He said the institution had made its programmes affordable to enable more people to access professional development opportunities and improve their career prospects.
