About Me

Prof (Mrs.) Smile Gavua Dzisi

Sarah Jones

Smile Dzisi is a renowned academic with over twenty-five years of rich experience and expertise in university leadership. She is an astute gender consultant of international repute. She has repeatedly received international awards for her contribution to entrepreneurship and innovation, women empowerment and the promotion of girls and women advancement. She served as a former Vice-Chancellor for Koforidua Technical University, as well as President of Data Link University College, a premier private university in Tema, Ghana. She is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Lead Consultant at Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Gender Consult.
Currently, Professor Dzisi is the chief consultant and chairperson of the preparatory committee leading the establishment of University College of Health and Technology(UCHaT), a new university in Anfoega, Volta Region of Ghana.
She doubles as the board chair of National Virtual Internship Programme (NVIP), as well as the board chair of Golden Latex Products Ltd.
Recently leading the development of a gender and social inclusion strategy for the Ghana TVET Vouchers Project or GTVP ( a Jointly funded Government of Ghana and German Ministry of Economic Co-operation project). The consulting assignment which took place in all the regions of Ghana was aimed at producing a strategy that will be used to implement increased participation of women in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) , as well as enhance the inclusion of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in TVET. This nationwide sociological and gender component of TVET expansion in Ghana is the first of its kind since the inception of the GTVP in 2017.
Previously leading the study into the assessment and implementation of a Gender Transformative Education for Ghana nation-wide, a project sponsored by African Education Watch and OXFAM.
She evaluated the gender component of the 5th UNFPA country program for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ghana.
As an international sociological expert she consulted for the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada on increasing the participation of women and girls in TVET in Africa.
Professor Dzisi also partnered with an international gender consultant to develop the Ghana Gender Policy for the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection in 2015. She also drafted the Social Protection Policy for the Ministry.
She served as sociologist and gender expert to evaluate an International Needs project on the training and settlement of freed former fetish slaves (“trokosi”) in the volta region.
She has also undertaken an assessment of the socio-economic effects of Junior High School dropouts in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region in 2021/2022.
Professor Dzisi has also led and advocated for gender equality and achievement of SDGs at several national and international platforms. (detailed profile is added).
Professor Smile Dzisi holds a PhD Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the famed Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, where she also won the best PhD thesis on Women in SMEs and the Socio-economic impact on Ghana, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Ghana and a BA Law and Sociology from the KNUST.
She was a former Vice-Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University where she led many innovative projects aimed at enhancing gender equality in access to, and participation in public educational opportunities.
Prof. Dzisi is passionate about increasing women representation in STEM/TVET. In her quest to address gender disparity in TVET in Ghana and Africa, she championed the establishment of Women in Technical Education and Development (WITED) in all the 10 Technical Universities in Ghana and consulted for Commonwealth of Learning/Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics of Africa on a project that sought to increase female representation in STEM in Africa. In 2019, she organized the first ever Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) workshop on Gender Equity in Ghana.
Professor Smile Dzisi is currently the founder and CEO of Leadership Entrepreneurship and Gender (LEG) Consult, an international consultancy based in Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.

As a Consultant

As an Educationist


As a Speaker

Consulting Projects

RECENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES RENDERED

March to June 2024: Consultancy services rendered to Commission of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET): Development of a Gender and Social Inclusion strategy to be relied upon during the implementation phase (Phase III+IV) of the Ghana TVET Voucher Project (GTVP)

Sept. to Nov. 2023: I Believe Global Foundation, (Swedish Gender based NGO) Study: Assessing the status of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) in Ghana.

Dec. 2022: Consultancy services rendered to Africa Education Watch: Report on Gender Transformative Education – An Assessment 0f Ghana’s Pre-Tertiary Education System

Oct. 2022: Consultancy services rendered to Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics of Africa (ATUPA): Raising the Next Generation of Young Women in STEM – A Missed Opportunity (A framework produced on the Enrollment, Retention ad Progression of Junior and Senior High School Girls in Ghana, who dropped out of school due to unintended pregnancies

Dec. 2021 – Sept 2022: Consultancy services rendered to Commonwealth of Learning, Canada: Development of Strategy and Action Plan for Girls and Women’s Participation in Science, Technology and Mathematics Programmes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Africa.

Oct. – Nov. 2022: Lead Consultant on the project Conducting a technical Gender Transformative Education Situational Assessment of the for pre- Tertiary Education in Ghana. The project was implemented for Africa Education Watch.

Dec. 2021 to Date: Consultancy services rendered to Commonwealth of Learning: Establishment of International Community of Practice for Increasing Girls and Women’s Participation in Science, Technology and Mathematics Programmes in Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Africa

August 2021: Consultancy services rendered to Universal Multimedia Limited: Capacity building workshop for productive organizational Culture and Effective Leadership

April 2019: Consultancy services rendered to DAAD: for the organization of Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) workshop on Gender Equity “Navigating Women’s Careers in Higher Education”, Ghana

May to June 2018: Consultancy services rendered to the Campaign for Female Education, Ghana (CAMFED Ghana): to conduct a Sectoral and Gender Analysis Survey on Areas of Business Interest for MasterCard Foundation Scholars

March to May 2018: Consultancy services rendered to the Commonwealth Of Learning: for the organization of Workshop on women in TVET Leadership for sustainable development in Ghana.

Feb. 2018: Consultancy services rendered to the Commonwealth Of
Learning: for the organization of Gender Scorecard Audit for
Koforidua Technical University.

Nov. 2017: Organized a workshop for Women In Technical Education And Development (WITED) for Technical Universities/Polytechnics.

Oct 2014 to Jan 2015: Consultancy Services rendered to Mobile Business Clinic (MBU): Facilitator at the Koforidua Mobile business Clinic and a Coach for two (4) Agri-Business.

Dec 2013 to Feb 2014: Consultancy services rendered to Ghana Statistical Services (World Bank Funded Project): Edited 2010 Ghana Population and Housing Census District Analytical Reports

Nov 2010 to Dec 2010: Consultancy services rendered to United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA): Evaluation of UNFPA 5th Country Programme

Jan to May 2010: Consultancy services rendered to International Needs Australia: Mid-term evaluation of the Adidome Modular Training Programme in Ghana.

Oct 2009 to March 2010: Consultancy services rendered to Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) (UNFPA funded project): The Institutional Assessment of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC).

Jan to Feb 2009: Consultancy services rendered to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD): Recruitment and Training of Staff members.

March – April 2009: Conducted series of seminars and workshops on effective leadership and organizational management for Senior Executives of Episcopal Relief and Development.

Sept.–Nov. 2008: Consultancy services rendered to International Needs Ghana: Skills Development and Entrepreneurial Training Workshops for Ex-Trokosi in Adidome.

Prof. as an Educationist


Smile Dzisi is a renowned academic with over twenty-five years of rich experience and expertise in university leadership. She is an astute gender consultant of international repute. She has repeatedly received international awards for her contribution to entrepreneurship and innovation, women empowerment and the promotion of girls and women advancement. She served as a former Vice-Chancellor for Koforidua Technical University, as well as President of Data Link University College, a premier private university in Tema, Ghana. She is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Lead Consultant at Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Gender Consult.
Currently, Professor Dzisi is the chief consultant and chairperson of the preparatory committee leading the establishment of University College of Health and Technology(UCHaT), a new university in Anfoega, Volta Region of Ghana.
She doubles as the board chair of National Virtual Internship Programme (NVIP), as well as the board chair of Golden Latex Products Ltd.
Recently leading the development of a gender and social inclusion strategy for the Ghana TVET Vouchers Project or GTVP ( a Jointly funded Government of Ghana and German Ministry of Economic Co-operation project). The consulting assignment which took place in all the regions of Ghana was aimed at producing a strategy that will be used to implement increased participation of women in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) , as well as enhance the inclusion of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in TVET. This nationwide sociological and gender component of TVET expansion in Ghana is the first of its kind since the inception of the GTVP in 2017.
Previously leading the study into the assessment and implementation of a Gender Transformative Education for Ghana nation-wide, a project sponsored by African Education Watch and OXFAM.
She evaluated the gender component of the 5th UNFPA country program for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ghana.
As an international sociological expert she consulted for the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada on increasing the participation of women and girls in TVET in Africa.

Prof. as a Speaker


(iv) Special Address (Keynote, Guest of Honour, Guest Speaker)

1. Keynote, Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA), Repositioning TVET Education Ecosystem in Light of COVID 19 through Heritage
Based Education, 29th August to 2nd September 2022, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

2. Keynote, The Eleventh Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference. Female Entrepreneurship in Ghana and Sustainable Development Goals, 25 August 2022, Kumasi, Ghana

3. Keynote, The 3rd International Conference of the Federal Polytechnic. Revamping the Economy: The TVET Perspective. 16h to 17th August 2022 in Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria .

4. Guest Speaker, DAAD Launch-Conference. Improving Graduate Employability through Capacity Building Partnerships, 25 to 26 April 2022. (Virtual)

5. Speaker, Ghana National Association of Teachers 2020 Stakeholders Forum. Theme: Teacher Leadership in Developing Crisis Education Response, 23rd September 2020, Accra, Ghana

6. Guest Speaker, Global Festival of Creative Economy, United Nations. High Level Workshop on the Importance of Creative Economy to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Goals. 11th March , 2020 to 8th April, 2020 – New York, USA

7. Chairperson, Launch of the 26th Annual National Conference of Directors of Education (CODE), 11th July 2019, Koforidua, Ghana

8. Guest Speaker, 12th Graduation Ceremony of Mount Mary college of Education. Theme: The Role of the Trained Teacher in the Educational Reform in Ghana. 29th June 2019 – Somanya, Ghana

9. Speaker, Oxford Debate – University of the Future Academic Union, 22 May – 23 May 2019, Oxford, United Kingdom

10. Keynote, Going Global Conference 2019 (Conference for Leaders of International Education) – Entrepreneurship, Employability and Higher Education Institutions in Developing Countries. 13 May – 15 May 2019 – Berlin, Germany

11. Chairperson, Launch of Ghana TVET Voucher Project in the Eastern Region, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and COTVET, 10th May 2019, Koforidua, Ghana

12. Keynote, DIES workshop on Gender Equity- Navigating Women’s Careers in Higher Education, Topic: Entrepreneurial and Innovative Skills for Women, 10 April – 12 April 2019 – Koforidua, Ghana

13. Guest Speaker, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Alumni First Quarter Council Meeting, the Role of Alumni Association to the Development of Higher Education Institutions, 23 March 2019 – Koforidua, Ghana

14. Keynote, National Summit on Tertiary Education and Enterprise Development, Topic: Why Graduate Unemployment, 12 March – 13 March 2019 – Koforidua, Ghana

15. Special Guest of Honour, Welcoming of First Years Ceremony (Matriculation), Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, September 2018, Germany

16. Keynote, International Conference, Join Forces Tapping Youth Employability Opportunities. Topic: Building Innovative and Entrepreneurial University: Koforidua Technical University Case Study, 31 October – 2 November 2018 – Windhoek, Namibia

17. Keynote, International Conference on Open Distance and eLearning. Topic: ODL Prospects and the Need for Integrated Policies for Emerging Higher Education Landscape, 22 – 24 October 2018 – Accra, Ghana

18. Guest of Honour, Inauguration Ceremony of Takoradi Technical University Chapter of Women in Technical Education Development. 26th September 2018 – Takoradi, Ghana

19. Panellist for Panel discussion, How do Technical Universities in Ghana meet the demands of employers and society? Conference On Technical University Management Improving Graduate Employability through Capacity Building Partnerships 10-11 July 2018 – DAAD, Accra, Ghana

20. Guest of Honour, Inauguration Ceremony of Kumasi Technical University Chapter of Women in Technical Education Development. 26th June 2018 – Kumasi, Ghana

21. Guest Speaker, Eastern Region Ghana Journalists Association Awards Night, 15th June, 2018 – Koforidua, Ghana

22. Guest of Honour, Inauguration Ceremony of Ho University Chapter of Women in Technical Education Development. 13th June 2018 – Ho, Ghana

23. Guest Speaker, 68th Honours Day Celebration of Mawuli Senior High School. 26th May, 2018 – Ho, Ghana

24. Guest Speaker, 52nd Quadrennial Delegates Conference Of The Ghana National Association Of Teachers (GNAT). 16th August, 2017– Koforidua, Ghana

25. Guest Speaker, 60th Anniversary Ceremony Of St Paul Technical School. 9th December 2017 – kukurantumi, Ghana

26. Special Guest of Honour, 30th Anniversary And 29th Graduation Ceremony Of Liberty Specialist Training Institute. 29th July 2017 – Koforidua, Ghana

27. Keynote, International Conference, Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) Conference. Topic: Building capacity for self-reliance and sustainability in key industrial sectors – the tools and resources that TVET institutions need. 24 April– 28 April 2017 – Cape Town, South Africa

28. Guest Speaker, 50th Anniversary, Speech and Prize Giving Day Ceremony of New Juaben Senior High School. 27th February 2016 – Koforidua, Ghana


AWARDS


November 2023:
Women’s Award of Excellence in the promotion of SDG 5 at the first International Women’s Conference organized by I Believe Global Foundation of Sweden

30th November, 2022:
Excellence in Leadership Award presented by WITED National Awards, Nigeria, in consultation with Women in Technical Education and Development, Nigeria, at the WITED 2022 National Award Ceremony, Lagos, Nigeria

2020:
Elected in 2020 as a model for TVET by COTVET/GIZ in Ghana

May 2019:
The Name in Science and Education Award, Academic Union and the Club of Rectors of Europe, United Kingdom.

March 2019:
4th Ghana Women of Excellence Award
,Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana

Nov. 2017
: Daasebre Silver Jubilee Award for Excellence, New Juaben Traditional Area, Ghana, Dec. 2009: Koforidua Polytechnic Rector’s Special Award for the most innovative and versatile staff 2009, Koforidua Polytechnic, Ghana

Feb. 2009:
Most Distinguished Thesis by a PhD or DBA Student Award,
Thesis Title: ‘Women Entrepreneurs in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana” Faculty of Business and Enterprise Prize Ceremony 2009, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.

Oct. 2007: Best Conference Paper Award, Title of Paper: ‘The Success of Ghanaian Women Entrepreneurs: Human and Cash Capital Factors’
Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) 2007 Conference, Edith Cowan University Entrepreneurship and Small Business Stream Award, Sydney, Australia. July 2005– 2008: GETFund Scholarship, (PhD, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia) Republic of Ghana

March 2001:
Netherlands Fellowship Programme Executive Programme – “Training of Women Entrepreneurs” Maastricht School of Management, Netherlands

Prof’s full Bio