UPSA launches laptop assembly plant to give students hands‑on IT training

On Wednesday, 14 October 2026, the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) officially opened a laptop assembly plant housed in the AFOA ATA Building. The launch follows longstanding student complaints that the university’s curriculum was overly theoretical.

“The main idea behind the UPSA laptop assembly plant is not just about assembling laptops but also to expose our students to the basic things they need to know and, ultimately, to equip them with skills to be self‑reliant,” management said at the ceremony.

The university says the new facility shifts IT education from video‑based instruction to hands‑on construction of motherboards, laptops and other gadgets. Students can now walk to the lab, learn to make motherboards, assemble and dismantle devices, and receive training in software, app development and artificial‑intelligence integration.

Financing and production

UPSA announced that, starting with the next academic year, each newly admitted student will assemble a personal laptop and pay for it over time through a “simple and convenient financing stream.” The plant currently produces 1,000 laptops per week—about 4,000 per month—and the first 25 units were assembled by students after three days of training.

The facility includes an S‑ray machine for fault detection and offers warranty and after‑sales service. UPSA contributed student labour as its equity; the project is a partnership with MDIT and two private investors.

“MDIT partnered with UPSA because, when we talk about professionalism, you cannot go anywhere other than UPSA,” the acting chief executive officer of MDIT said.

MDIT’s role extends beyond production to skill development, offering short courses ranging from one month to a year in advanced AI, AI‑agent training, and printed‑circuit‑board design. The courses are open to all students meeting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or equivalent qualification.

Commercial ambitions

As a business university, UPSA aims to serve as an original equipment manufacturer for Ghanaian enterprises seeking locally produced laptops, mobile phones and tablets. Management said the university hopes to scale the operation nationwide after the Phase One launch, with Phase Two focusing on broader business community engagement.

University officials confirmed that the plant is operational and that further expansion plans are under review.