GAIA is proud to introduce one of its most transformative initiatives, the launch of the IT Academy in Ghana in 2025. This academy is a response to Africa’s urgent need for digital empowerment. It is designed to nurture the next generation of tech-savvy leaders, targeting young individuals and professionals between the ages of 14 and 35, whether students, aspiring entrepreneurs, or simply driven individuals seeking opportunities in the digital world.

The Objective

The objective of this initiative is to establish outsourcing, offshoring and Artificial Intelligence solution (AIS) facilities that cater to the IT needs of Western companies, while simultaneously developing and positioning Ghana as a competitive IT outsourcing destination in the global landscape.

The initiative aims not only to create outsourcing and AIS opportunities consequently and rise in employment, but also to offer Western companies an attractive proposition for their outsourcing and AI strategies. Participation in this initiative may deliver significant benefits, including long-term positive impacts on their profit and loss performance among others. This proposition is unique in its kind, as no other market players have yet identified the gap between
strategic objectives, the scarcity of resources and the enormous opportunities that lies in this region and field, nor formulated a targeted solution in the way GAIA has articulated its business in this field.

Pioneering in Tech

Participation in such a distinctive and impactful initiative allows companies and individuals involved to position themselves as pioneers in technological innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship, thereby strengthening their competitive edge. Furthermore, the success of this initiative has the potential to pave way for future
collaborations between (new) partners and GAIA, as well as with other innovative and socially impactful initiatives, thereby expanding strategic growth opportunities.

GAIA IT Academy

The IT Academy will serve as a hub for learning, mentorship and hands-on training in software development and technology entrepreneurship. Operated under GAIA’s Research, Development and Learning (RD&L) division, the academy aims to equip participants with in-demand skills that will enable them to compete and thrive in both national and international markets. From boot camps and coding workshops to fintech innovation and access to refurbished laptops, the academy offers a practical and holistic learning environment designed to close the digital gap and create a pipeline of empowered youth ready to lead Africa’s digital future. Please find below the Educational Strategic framework of the proposition:

IT Academy Education strategic framework Strategy

GAIA’s educational strategy is founded on a strong emphasis on practical, application-oriented learning within its IT Academy. The Academy is designed
to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world business
needs. To this end, GAIA aims to engage experienced industry professionals as lecturers and mentors. This approach ensures a business-centric learning
experience that equips students with relevant skills and prepares them for direct entry into the workforce, as well as for GAIA’s outsourcing propositions.

Approach

Students will work on real-life IT-problems within specific business sectors. Strategic partnerships with organizations in Europe and Ghana are a key
component of the learning model and are intended to:

I. Deliver education in a highly practical manner, as opposed to the
predominantly theoretical approach that characterizes most universities.
II. Promote excellence by fostering high-quality skills, competencies, and professional standards among students.
III. Develop students’ capabilities with a clear focus on future outsourcing and professional deployment.

Course Characteristics
Structure

 Each subject consists of 4 hours of instruction per week.
 The initial phase of each course focuses on theory and conceptual
understanding (25%).
 The remaining portion of the course emphasizes practical, hands-on assignments (75%).
 Weekly assignments integrate the concepts and skills learned
throughout the week.

Knowledge & Skills development
 The Academy provides a practice-based learning environment that simulates real business structures and dynamics.

 Students acquire new knowledge and skills weekly, accompanied by
practical assignments.
 Lessons are based on real-world case studies and the development of products for external clients or GAIA solutions.
 Course levels range from beginner to advanced.

Benefits

 (Inter)national certified courses
 Courses are designed to prepare students for outsourcing roles
rendered by GAIA and international business partners and for work
deployment.
 International network, ecosystem and opportunities.

Unique selling point:

 Strong emphasis on real-world application and experiential learning
 Positioning computer science as a tool for societal and business
transformation rather than a purely academic discipline.
 Regular coding bootcamps and hands-on workshops with a focus on practical execution.
 Use of structured coding textbooks instead of reliance on online video platforms.
 Access to structured mentorship programs.
 Training in GitHub and comparable professional development platforms
 Integration of AI competencies and responsible AI usage in software development.
 Facilitation of student communities within partner universities.

Collaborations

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in real-world projects, such as developing mobile money platforms, digital crowdfunding tools, and business apps designed for African markets. In collaboration with various companies and organisations such as Design & Technology Institute (DTI), IOT Hub, SeevCash, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (Digital for Development (D4D), the Better Dream
Foundation (BDF), University of Ghana, Decisio, Makelab, NubianVR and Impact Hub Accra/Dawa, the Global Hub seeks to render knowledge-sharing spaces and
initiatives that foster scalable digital solutions and facilitates continuous cross-border learning and growth for the tech leaders of the future!
One of the program’s unique features is its circular support model which implies beneficiaries of the academy will be encouraged to mentor new participants, ensuring
a continuous cycle of growth and impact.

Why Ghana?

The decision to launch in Ghana stems from an understanding of the challenges faced by African countries in today’s tech-driven world. Despite being one of the

continent’s most progressive nations, Ghana still sees less than 15% of its population
owning a computer which is a huge contrast to western countries like the Netherlands where computer ownership exceeds 90%. This shows a limited access to digital
resources, education, and infrastructure. The IT Academy was born out of the need to directly address these challenges and empower African youth to not only adapt to but lead within the digital age.

Enrolment 2026

Enrolment is officially open for our upcoming IT Academy, with classes set to begin in January 2026 at Tender Care International School, located at 22 Abidjan Avenue,
Accra, Ghana. As part of our mission to make quality tech education accessible, we’ll be launching an exciting IT Course Campaign across campuses throughout November and December, introducing students to the future of digital innovation.
Interested participants can reach us via WhatsApp or phone at +233 20 852 0707 (Ghana) or +31 6 5060 6250 (International) for inquiries and registration. Join us as we shape the next generation of tech leaders.

Partnerships

GAIA also extends an open invitation to development partners, NGOs, tech companies, and governments to join in making the IT Academy a lasting success. With the right support, this model can be replicated across the continent, serving as a beacon of innovation, equality, and possibility.