UNIMTECH Hosts SLEEK Training of Trainers (ToT3), Sustainability Workshop, and Management Meeting in Freetown

Freetown, Sierra Leone — The University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH) recently hosted a comprehensive four-day programme under the SLEEK project, bringing together international partners, academics, and entrepreneurship experts for a series of training sessions, sustainability discussions, and a formal project management meeting. The activities were held at the UNIMTECH European Hall and formed part of the SLEEK Third Training of Trainers (ToT3), Sustainability Workshop, and Management Meeting.

The programme provided a platform for educators and project partners from Sierra Leone and Europe to exchange practical knowledge on entrepreneurship education, review the progress of the project, and design strategies to ensure that the project’s outcomes continue to benefit institutions long after the current phase of implementation.

Day 1 – Opening of the Training of Trainers Workshop

The first day, held on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, marked the opening of the SLEEK Third Training of Trainers Workshop titled “The Practice of Entrepreneurship.” The workshop began with an official welcome delivered by Professor Osman Alimamy Sankoh, Vice Chancellor and Principal of UNIMTECH. In his remarks, Professor Sankoh welcomed the international partners to Sierra Leone and emphasised the importance of collaboration in strengthening entrepreneurship education and innovation within universities.

Following the opening remarks, Cristina Beans, Senior Project Manager and SLEEK Coordinator from the University of Alicante, introduced the SLEEK project and outlined the week’s programme, providing participants with an overview of the objectives and expectations for the training.

An official group photograph followed before the first technical session titled “Impossible Market,” facilitated by Dr. Sampa Kamara, an external expert. The session challenged participants to rethink traditional approaches to market opportunities and encouraged them to explore unconventional ways of identifying entrepreneurial possibilities.

After a short coffee break, Dr. Kamara continued with an interactive session titled “Play Your Own Way,” which emphasised creativity and experimentation in entrepreneurship learning environments.

The afternoon session featured a presentation on “Fostering Connection and Meaningful Value Creation through Empathy,” delivered by Professor Eduardo Sánchez from the Department of Business Organisation at the University of Alicante. The session highlighted the importance of empathy and human-centred thinking in entrepreneurial innovation.

The day concluded with a wrap-up session in which participants reflected on the discussions and lessons from the day’s training activities.

Day 2 – Creative Problem-Solving and Experiential Learning

The second day of the workshop, held on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, continued the practical focus of the training. The morning session opened with a Creative Problem-Solving Lab titled “Simple Tools, Big Ideas,” facilitated by Professor Javier Martínez Falcó of the University of Alicante’s Department of Business Organisation. The session introduced participants to practical techniques that can be used in classrooms to help students develop entrepreneurial ideas using structured creativity methods. Following the coffee break, Professor Martínez Falcó continued the lab, allowing participants to apply the tools in group exercises.

In the afternoon, participants engaged in a hands-on session titled “Experiment, Reflect, Evolve: Hands-On Approaches to Entrepreneurship Education for Educators.” This session was facilitated by Professor Clarissa Maierhofer and Professor Doris Kienzl from FHJ. The session explored experiential teaching methods that allow students to learn entrepreneurship through experimentation, reflection, and iterative improvement.

The second day ended with a wrap-up session summarising the key insights and practical lessons from the training activities.

Day 3 – Sustainability Workshop and Partner Collaboration

The programme continued on Thursday, 27 November 2025, with a working session among project partners moderated by Dr. Sampa Kamara. The session allowed partners to review their collaboration, share experiences from the training sessions, and discuss ongoing implementation activities. This was followed by a ToT3 wrap-up session led by Cristina Beans, where participants reflected on the training programme and identified areas for further improvement and collaboration.

After the coffee break, the programme moved into the SLEEK Sustainability Workshop. Cristina Beans delivered a presentation on “Sustainability of Results in an Erasmus+ Project,” focusing on how institutions can ensure that the outcomes of international academic projects remain active beyond the period of funding. The discussion continued with a working session on planning the sustainability of SLEEK results within partner institutions, moderated by Cristina Beans. During this session, participants developed strategies for integrating entrepreneurship education practices into their universities and maintaining long-term institutional commitment.

The day concluded with a social activity in Freetown, during which international partners visited the National Museum, the Special Court, and the Big Market, giving them the opportunity to experience aspects of Sierra Leone’s history, legal heritage, and vibrant commercial culture.

Day 4 – SLEEK Management Meeting

The final day of the programme, Friday, 28 November 2025, focused on the SLEEK Project Management Meeting, where partners reviewed project implementation and planned the next stages of work.

The meeting began with an agenda overview and update on the current project status, including timelines, milestones, deliverables, reporting processes, and amendments under Work Package 1. The session was presented by Cristina Beans of the University of Alicante.

This was followed by updates on payment and equipment procurement under Work Packages 1 and 5, delivered by Elena Torres of the University of Alicante. A quality assurance update and instructions under Work Package 1 were presented by Papa Njai of MMTU, providing guidance on maintaining project standards and reporting procedures. Partners also received updates on training activities and planning for the Fourth Training of Trainers programme (ToT4), presented by Cristina Beans, Elena Torres, and Peter Lassana of UNIMAK.

After the coffee break, participants engaged in a working session on the development of a Toolkit for Entrepreneurial Education, moderated by Dr. Sampa Kamara and William Conteh of USL/IPAM. The session brought together all partners to contribute ideas and frameworks for the toolkit. Later sessions included an update on Entrepreneurship Academies and the next steps for their development, delivered by Clarissa Maierhofer of FHJ.

In the afternoon, attention shifted to dissemination activities and future communication strategies under Work Package 7, presented online by Pastor Thomas Metzler of UNIMTECH.

Partners also participated in a brainstorming session on the Sierra Leone Entrepreneurship Showcase, moderated by Francis Stevens George of InnoSL, exploring ways to highlight entrepreneurial innovation within the country.

This was followed by another brainstorming session on promoting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education, moderated by Ernest Udoh and William Conteh of USL/IPAM, where participants discussed strategies for expanding entrepreneurship education across institutions.

The management meeting concluded with “Any Other Business” discussions and a final wrap-up session led by Cristina Beans and Ms Josephine Denise Kamara of UNIMTECH, summarising the outcomes of the week and outlining the next steps for the project.

As part of the closing ceremony, participants were presented with certificates in recognition of their participation in the training programme, and gifts were also presented to all participants as a token of appreciation for their collaboration and contribution to the success of the event. 

The programme formally concluded with a social dinner AND cultural performance at New Brookfields Hotel, which showcased elements of Sierra Leone’s rich artistic traditions and provided an opportunity for international guests to experience local culture.

Visit to Tacugama and Departure of International Partners

On Saturday, 29 November 2025, a day after the official meetings ended, the international partners visited the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, one of Sierra Leone’s most important wildlife conservation centres. The visit allowed the guests to experience another dimension of the country’s natural heritage and conservation efforts.

Following the visit, the partners proceeded with their departure from Sierra Leone, bringing to a close a week of productive collaboration, learning, and cultural exchange.

Through this extensive programme, UNIMTECH once again demonstrated its commitment to international academic cooperation and to strengthening entrepreneurship education in Sierra Leone. The SLEEK initiative continues to serve as a valuable platform for building the skills, partnerships, and institutional frameworks needed to support innovation and entrepreneurial development in higher education.