BRRI AND TVET INSTITUTIONS FORGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE SKILLS TRAINING AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION.
Fumesua, Kumasi – May 6, 2025
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions across the Ashanti Region have formally entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen skills development, promote sustainable construction, and accelerate the adoption of local building technologies in Ghana. The collaboration was officially sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a high-level breakfast meeting held at BRRI’s Artisan Training Centre (NATC) in Fumesua. The event brought together TVET officers and principals, heads of departments, and the media to deliberate on bridging the gap between research innovation and technical training.
A Shared Vision for Skills and Innovation
In his opening address, Ing. Dr. Daniel Asenso-Gyambibi, Director of CSIR-BRRI, emphasised the importance of this partnership in the national development context:
“In the face of rising construction costs, growing youth unemployment, and the government’s renewed focus on affordable housing, it has become imperative to find sustainable, locally made solutions. This partnership with TVET institutions represents a bold step toward aligning research with real-world skills and empowering the next generation of builders.”
Dr. Asenso-Gyambibi noted BRRI’s key innovations, including burnt brick production and construction technology, Pozzolana cement, and fast-track construction systems, as critical tools to support this agenda. He highlighted BRRI’s long-standing track record of training artisans and collaborating with government agencies to scale affordable infrastructure projects.
TVET Institutions Welcoming the Collaboration
The Ashanti Regional Director of TVET Services, Ing. Richard Ado Gyamfi commended BRRI for initiating the engagement and reaffirmed TVET’s readiness to integrate modern building innovations into teaching and learning.
“We are excited about this collaboration. Our institutions must stay relevant to industry needs, and this partnership gives us direct access to innovations that are Ghana-made and globally competitive. The hands-on exposure and curriculum support from BRRI will enhance our students’ employability and entrepreneurial potential.”
Training as a Launchpad for Enterprise
Also speaking at the event, Arc.Dr. Joseph Agyei Danquah, Coordinator of BRRI’s National Artisan Training Centre (NATC), shared insights on how the collaboration will be implemented through joint training programs, faculty attachments, and youth-focused entrepreneurship.
“This partnership will not be limited to the practical training for the students but also equip facilitators with the emerging sustainable trends, conduct research together and ultimately develop curriculum in local building materials and construction for knowledge transfer to TVET institutions. Our training centre is ready to host students and instructors for practical modules in sustainable construction. With over 1,500 artisans trained already for the past decade, and more recently 250 youth in brick production with YEA, we are poised to help TVET students turn their skills into businesses and jobs.”
Dr. Danquah indicated that BRRI will work closely with each TVET institution to tailor programs based on their needs, covering areas such as modern brick making and masonry, green building materials, site management, and basic surveying and soft skills grooming.
Outcomes and Next Steps
The MOU outlines key areas of collaboration, including:
- Curriculum enhancement with BRRI technologies
- Internships and field training at BRRI facilities
- Joint research and innovation projects
- Capacity building for TVET instructors
- Collaborative pilot construction projects using local materials
The partnership is expected to roll out in phases beginning mid-2025, with an initial focus on training-of-trainers and student exposure visits.
In closing the event, all parties expressed optimism about the future of the partnership and its alignment with Ghana’s broader goals for technical education reform, youth employment, and affordable housing development.
For media inquiries or partnership discussions, please contact:
CSIR-BRRI Public Affairs Unit
📞 +233 (0)32 206 0064 | ✉ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
📞 +233244684281, NATC Coordinator
The CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute is one of the thirteen research institutes under CSIR-Ghana. The mandate of the institute is to provide Research and Development to the building and road sector of the Ghanaian economy. The Institute is currently equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories in the areas of Structural Materials Testing, Geotechnical Investigations, Transportation Engineering Analysis, Surveying and Mapping, as well as Geo-informatics. The Institute is open to collaborative research and provision of consultancy services to both public and private entities, as well as international agencies.
