UNIMTECH Successfully Launches SLEEK Project

Freetown, Sierra Leone — 12 June 2025 — The University of Management and Technology (UNIMTECH) has officially launched the SLEEK Project – Strengthening Local Engagement through Evidence and Knowledge, an initiative designed to strengthen entrepreneurship education and deepen collaboration between universities and the business sector in Sierra Leone.

The launch ceremony was held on Thursday, 12 June 2025, at the European Hall on the university’s Kissy Dockyard campus in Freetown. The event brought together members of the university’s leadership, faculty and students, representatives from partner institutions, development stakeholders, and the media. The initiative is supported under the Erasmus+ Programme through its Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) framework, which promotes international academic cooperation and institutional development.

The SLEEK initiative seeks to strengthen entrepreneurship training within universities by developing a more structured curriculum, improving teaching approaches, and fostering stronger engagement between higher education institutions and the private sector. By connecting academic learning with practical economic realities, the project is expected to contribute to improved graduate employability while encouraging innovation and enterprise among young people.

During the launch ceremony, members of the UNIMTECH management highlighted the growing importance of universities in promoting innovation and skills development. They noted that strengthening entrepreneurship education is increasingly vital as institutions seek to equip graduates with the practical knowledge and confidence needed to create businesses and contribute to national development.

The programme included a keynote address reflecting on the role of universities in shaping entrepreneurial thinking among students. Participants were also introduced to the SLEEK project team and received a presentation outlining the initiative’s objectives and planned activities.

The launch concluded with the symbolic commencement of project activities, followed by a press briefing and a networking session that allowed participants from different institutions to interact and explore opportunities for collaboration.

The three-year initiative brings together a consortium of local and international partners. Sierra Leonean institutions participating in the project include the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), University of Sierra Leone, Milton Margai Technical University, and the University of Makeni, alongside innovation partner Innovation Sierra Leone. European universities are also part of the consortium, providing technical expertise and academic collaboration.

Through this partnership, the initiative aims to create a stronger environment for entrepreneurship education by linking universities with innovation hubs, industry actors, and policy institutions. The broader objective is to ensure that graduates leave university not only with academic qualifications but also with the practical skills and networks required to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.

Further information about the initiative is available at www.sleeksierraleone.eu.