SLEEK Brings International Partners Together for ToT4 and Management Meeting at the University of Makeni

The Sierra Leone Education in Entrepreneurial Pedagogy and Skills (SLEEK) Project convened its fourth Training of Trainers (ToT4) and Consortium Management Meeting at the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) from 9 to 13 June 2026, bringing together educators, university leaders, European partners and industry representatives to strengthen entrepreneurship education and advance project implementation across Sierra Leone.

The week-long programme formed part of the European Union-funded Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project, which is helping transform entrepreneurship education in Sierra Leone through stronger teaching practices, institutional capacity building and closer collaboration between universities and industry. Hosted by the University of Makeni, the event provided a platform for consortium partners to review progress, exchange experiences and equip university lecturers with practical approaches to entrepreneurial teaching.

The programme opened with welcoming remarks from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Makeni, who received delegates from partner universities across Sierra Leone and Europe and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and skills development in higher education. Representatives from consortium institutions also delivered goodwill messages, highlighting the importance of working together to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial mindset needed to create opportunities and contribute to national development.

Setting the tone for the week, the SLEEK Project Coordinator from the University of Alicante presented an overview of the project and outlined the objectives of the training and management meeting. He emphasised that the Training of Trainers model is intended to build a network of educators who will transfer the knowledge, teaching approaches and best practices acquired during the programme to colleagues within their respective institutions, ensuring that the project’s impact extends well beyond the training itself.

Throughout the five-day programme, participants took part in interactive workshops, practical exercises, presentations and group discussions focused on strengthening entrepreneurial pedagogy. The sessions explored topics including entrepreneurial mindset development, learner-centred teaching methods, design thinking, innovation, business model development, opportunity identification, curriculum design, project-based learning, experiential learning and effective assessment strategies for entrepreneurship education.

Working in multidisciplinary teams, participants analysed real-life challenges and developed practical teaching approaches that can be integrated into university programmes. The collaborative learning environment encouraged the exchange of ideas among educators from different institutions while promoting innovative ways of preparing students for entrepreneurship and the changing world of work.

Alongside the training sessions, consortium partners held a series of management meetings to assess progress across the project. Discussions focused on the implementation of work packages, quality assurance, communication and dissemination activities, financial and administrative matters, sustainability planning, risk management and preparations for upcoming project milestones. The meetings also provided an opportunity for partners to share lessons learned, address implementation challenges and agree on strategies for the next phase of the project.

The programme strengthened collaboration among Sierra Leonean and European partner institutions while enhancing participants’ understanding of innovative entrepreneurship teaching approaches. It also reinforced institutional commitment to integrating entrepreneurship across university curricula and produced practical action plans to guide the implementation of entrepreneurship initiatives at participating institutions.

As host institution, the University of Makeni coordinated conference facilities, technical and administrative support, logistics, information technology services and hospitality for local and international delegates. The successful organisation of the programme reflected the University’s growing role in supporting entrepreneurship education and fostering collaboration among higher education institutions, development partners and industry.

The successful conclusion of the ToT4 and Management Meeting marks another important milestone for the SLEEK Project as it continues to strengthen entrepreneurship education across Sierra Leone. Through improved teaching practices, stronger institutional partnerships and continued collaboration between academia and industry, the project is helping lay the foundation for a higher education system that equips graduates with the entrepreneurial skills needed to drive innovation, create jobs and contribute to sustainable economic growth.