IPAM/USL Campus Launch Event Post

The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone, officially launched the Sierra Leone Education in Entrepreneurial Pedagogy and Skills (SLEEK) project on June 12, 2025, at the Ekundayo Thompson Building, Tower Hill Campus. The event marked a transformative milestone in entrepreneurship education, drawing over 170 attendees, including university leadership, faculty, students, and secondary school pupils. Highlighting IPAM’s pioneering role, the launch emphasized the shift from job seekers to job creators, aligning with Sierra Leone’s vision for youth empowerment and economic growth.

The SLEEK Campus Launch showcased the project’s mission to integrate entrepreneurial pedagogy into higher education, fostering innovation and industry collaboration. Funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education program, SLEEK unites five Sierra Leonean institutions and two European partners to enhance curriculum design, lecturer training, and student-led ventures. The event featured keynote speeches, interactive discussions, and a ceremonial unveiling of the SLEEK banner, symbolizing the university’s commitment to practical, market-driven education.

Participants and speakers shared powerful testimonials:

In his keynote, Prof. Lebbie emphasized the transformative potential of entrepreneurship:

“Entrepreneurship is a practical means of job creation and wealth creation, especially in the context of thousands of students graduating each year without a job.”

Prof. Conteh-Morgan highlighted IPAM’s proactive approach:

“The university has evolved to now training and empowering students to be job creators rather than job seekers. IPAM has been a pioneer in playing that role as a University in Sierra Leone.”

Acting Registrar Mr. Munda Lebbie underscored the institutional progress:

“IPAM already has a track record of mainstreaming entrepreneurship as a module across all courses and levels. With SLEEK, this is being taken to another level by equipping lecturers with specialized pedagogical skills and practical linkages with industries.”

Students praised the project’s focus on skills development while faculty emphasized the value of international partnerships, such as with Spain’s Universidad de Alicante.

The launch resonated strongly, with attendees who expressed heightened interest in entrepreneurship. Students and staff expressed that they will want to see more interactive workshops and industry mentorship. Next steps include rolling out specialized training for lecturers, and expanding collaborations with local businesses. IPAM will also leverage SLEEK to refine its curriculum, ensuring alignment with Sierra Leone’s labor market needs.

Through SLEEK, IPAM is poised to revolutionize Sierra Leone’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by equipping students with adaptive skills, fostering startups, and bridging academia-industry gaps. This launch is the first step in a three-year journey to cultivate a generation of innovators who will drive sustainable development. By embedding entrepreneurship into education, SLEEK ensures graduates are not only employable but also capable of shaping the nation’s economic future.