Ghana Digital Centres Ltd (GDCL) has formalised a strategic partnership with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Capacity Building Center to advance digital literacy and innovation across Ghana through collaborative educational programmes and knowledge exchange initiatives.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in August 2025, establishes a framework for cooperation between the two institutions, focusing on capacity building, research collaboration, and the development of sustainable digital skills training programmes.
The partnership will enable GDCL to leverage UCLA’s expertise in education and technology whilst providing UCLA with insights into digital transformation initiatives in emerging markets.
Under this agreement, both organisations will work together to facilitate faculty exchanges, joint research programmes, and the development of postgraduate and undergraduate training opportunities. The collaboration will also explore opportunities for joint conferences and symposia on subjects of mutual interest, particularly in areas relating to digital inclusion and technological innovation.
The partnership is expected to directly benefit Ghanaian professionals, students, and entrepreneurs by providing access to world-class educational resources and training methodologies.
GDCL will utilise this collaboration to strengthen its existing programmes and introduce new initiatives aligned with international best practices in digital skills development.
Speaking about the partnership, Dzifa Gunu, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Digital Centres Ltd, said: “This collaboration with UCLA represents an important step forward in our mission to democratise access to quality digital education in Ghana. By partnering with one of the world’s leading universities, we are creating opportunities for our people to acquire cutting-edge skills that will position them competitively in the global digital economy. We are focused on developing sustainable capabilities that will drive innovation and long-term economic growth across our communities.”
Professor Cecilia Rios-Aguilar, Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies, commented: “UCLA is deeply committed to partnerships that expand access to equitable, high-quality education and empower communities through knowledge and innovation. Our collaboration with Ghana Digital Centres Ltd exemplifies how universities can work across borders to advance digital inclusion and lifelong learning.”
Professor Walter R. Allen, Distinguished Professor and Allan Murray Cartter Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Capacity Building Center, added: “This partnership builds on a shared belief that education and technology are powerful tools for social and economic transformation. Together, UCLA and GDCL are investing in the next generation of African innovators and global change-makers.”
The partnership will be implemented through coordinated programmes between GDCL and the UCLA Capacity Building Center, with both institutions committed to ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and policies governing international academic collaborations.
