Come Friday, July 29, 2022, all eyes of the UDS community are set to focus on the Andani Andan Academic Chamber where the 3rd edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s Business Innovation Awards will be held.

What makes this year’s event even more special is the fact that it forms part of activities lined-up to commemorate 30 years of the establishment of the University for Development Studies.

The University for Development Studies’(UDS) Vice-Chancellor’s Business Innovation Award Scheme which is operated under the Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC) of the University’s Business Directorate (UDS-BD) is a scheme that seeks to develop the business acumen of students, alongside academic training. The aim is to enable students of the University to take advantage of business opportunities available to them under the supportive environment provided by the University. 

The first edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s Business Innovation Award came off in November 2020. The focus was on how to use Standards and Packaging in Marketing. An initial number of 34 applicants was pruned down to 21. The participants were engaged in the first pitch out of which 12 were selected for a second round of pitching.

The number was further pruned down from 12 to for the final pitch. Ultimately, three business ideas emerged the winners. Since then, the winners have been enrolled in the Incubation Programme of the UDS-BIIC and are currently at various stages of transforming their ideas into business ventures.

Having had a successful maiden edition, the second edition of the award was even better. It also focused the use of Standards and Packaging in Marketing. The aim was to help to reverse the negative perception that locally produced commodities and services do not find their way to the shelves because they do not meet domestic and international standards and hence are not certified. Standards such as weights, measures, quality, handling among others were central to the judges.

After another successful pitching, winners were announced in October 2021. Just as was done for the winners of the maiden edition, winners of the 2021 edition have also been enrolled in the Incubation Programme of the UDS-BIIC and are currently at various stages of transforming their ideas into business ventures.

The process to roll out the 2022 edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s Business Innovation Award kicked off with a meeting of various stakeholders. On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, the first pitching of the selection process was held on the Tamale Campus. Similar events were held on the Nyankpala Campus of the UDS on Thursday, April, 28, 2022.

The Director of the UDS Business Directorate, Dr. Richard Yeboah says all is set for the anniversary edition of the Vice-Chancellor’s Business Innovation Awards which will have the CEO of AMAATI Company Ltd, Mrs Salma Abdulai as Guest of honour, with the Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies as the Keynote Speaker.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Business Innovation Awards for this year, considered entries under sub-themes such as Standards, Packaging of commodities, Packaging of services etc.

Ultimately, awardees will have the benefit of Business incubation services from the UDS-BIIC, access to experienced mentors, workspace with internet access additional support from experts in the UDS, Cash award of between GHȼ 15,000.00 and GHȼ 20,000.00.