What KNUST School of Business (KSB) does

KNUST School of Business (KSB) is a faculty of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a public university located in Kumasi, Ghana. Established in 2005 as a spin-off from KNUST's Department of Economics and Industrial Management, KSB delivers business education across five academic departments (Accounting and Finance, Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Human Resource & Organizational Development, Marketing and Corporate Strategy, and Supply Chain & Information Systems) and serves approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 2,400 postgraduate students, with a cited alumni base exceeding 50,000 worldwide.

KSB's core products are its academic programs: a BSc Business Administration with multiple specializations, a BSc Hospitality and Tourism Management, an MBA offered in full-time, part-time/evening, and weekend streams with multiple concentrations, MSc/MPhil programs across business disciplines, and a full-time PhD in Business and Management with five research specializations. Supporting services include the KSB Library (providing access to electronic databases such as EBSCO HOST, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, and Emerald Insight), a Digital Innovation Hub for student entrepreneurship, a Career Services Office, and a Professional Programs Centre for continuing education and corporate training.

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees for degree programs (PhD fees are disclosed at GH₵18,000 per annum for both Ghanaian and international students, with a USD 400 international application fee), supplemented by professional short courses and corporate training. The school is government-owned as part of KNUST and does not have external private investors or venture capital backing. It has secured a $15 million USAID grant jointly with Arizona State University to operate CARISCA, a Global Centre in Supply Chain Management, and holds accreditations from the Association of African Business Schools (AABS, 2024), the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), and a direct Chartered Membership pathway with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

Name

KNUST School of Business (KSB)

Legal name

KNUST School of Business

Website

https://business.knust.edu.gh

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KNUST School of Business (KSB) is a Ghanaian public business school within Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, offering undergraduate, MBA, MSc/MPhil, and PhD programs to roughly 6,400 students across five departments in Kumasi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Business School

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA), Hospitality, Tourism & Sports Management Schools (within Business Schools) (EDAHAHAL), Marketing, Sales & Brand Management Schools (EDAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Business education programs
• Undergraduate business degrees
• Graduate management programs
• Doctoral business research
• Executive corporate training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kumasi

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Revenue from BSc Business Administration programs across multiple specializations including Accounting, Finance, Marketing, HR, International Business, Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, Business Information Technology, and Hospitality and Tourism Management.
2. Graduate Programs (MBA, MSc, MPhil): Revenue from postgraduate programs including full-time MBA, part-time/evening MBA, weekend MBA, and various MSc and MPhil specializations. Programs offered in multiple formats to accommodate working professionals.
3. Doctoral Programs (PhD): Revenue from full-time PhD in Business and Management. Fees for 2023/2024 were GH¢18,000 per annum for Ghana students and USD 400 application fee for international students. Duration is 3-4 years full-time.
4. Professional Programs Centre: Revenue from short courses, customized corporate training, certificate programs for working professionals in areas like leadership, digital transformation, analytics, and innovation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KNUST School of Business delivers tertiary business education programs through five departments, offering a BSc Business Administration (with multiple majors), BSc Hospitality and Tourism Management, an MBA (full-time, part-time/evening, and weekend streams), MSc and MPhil specializations, and a PhD in Business and Management. Supporting offerings include a Professional Programs Centre for short courses and customized corporate training, the KSB Career Services Office, and the CARISCA research centre for supply chain research.

Product overview

KNUST School of Business (KSB) is an academic institution within KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana, offering a portfolio of degree programs and professional services. Its product portfolio spans undergraduate programs (BSc Business Administration with multiple majors and BSc Hospitality and Tourism Management), graduate programs (MBA in multiple specializations, MSc and MPhil in specialized business disciplines), and doctoral programs (PhD in Business and Management). Supporting offerings include a Professional Programs Centre for corporate training and short courses, the KSB Career Services Office for student employment support, the KSB Library with physical and electronic resources, and the CARISCA research centre with its innovations lab for supply chain research. KSB does not operate a technology product in the traditional SaaS sense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BSc Business Administration A four-year undergraduate degree providing a broad business foundation in years 1-2 and specialization in years 3-4 in majors including Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Management, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Business Information Technology. Designed for students entering tertiary education.
• BSc Hospitality and Tourism Management An undergraduate program blending academic rigor with practical skills across hotel operations, restaurant management, event management, tourism economics, and destination marketing, producing graduates for the hospitality and tourism industry.
• MBA (Master of Business Administration) A multidisciplinary MBA offered in Full-Time, Part-Time/Evening, and Weekend streams with year-1 core curriculum and year-2 specialization tracks in Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management Information Systems, and Strategic Management. Aimed at working professionals and career-focused individuals.
• MSc and MPhil Programs Master of Science and Master of Philosophy programs in specialized business disciplines including Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business and Data Analytics, and Management Information Systems. MSc emphasizes applied industry skills; MPhil emphasizes research methodologies.
• PhD in Business and Management A full-time 3-4 year doctoral program cultivating scholars for distinguished careers in education, research, and business consulting, with specializations including Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Accounting Finance Marketing, Organizational Leadership, and Hospitality and Tourism Management. 2023/2024 tuition was GH₵18,000 per annum for Ghanaian students with a USD 400 application fee for international students.
• Professional Programs Centre Short courses, customized corporate training, and certificate programs in leadership, digital transformation, analytics, and innovation, providing continued education and upskilling opportunities for working professionals.
• KSB Library An information support facility serving KSB students and faculty with a physical collection organized by Library of Congress Classification and electronic access to databases including EBSCO HOST, Emerald Insight, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and SAGE.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 alumni making impact worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Buffalo, USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Global Collaboration and Leadership programme inviting KSB postgraduate students to virtual sessions (June-September 2026) with optional in-person travel to Buffalo in April 2027. Enhances personal and professional leadership skills through self-awareness and collaboration with peers from around the world.
• Ga Mantse, King Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru IIminorOthers · 2 June 2025Royal endorsement from Ga Mantse during 20th Anniversary celebrations, highlighting KSB's role in shaping business leadership in Ghana and Africa.
• Southern University, A&M College, Louisiana, USAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025Cross-cultural exchange and learning partnership with Southern University students visiting KSB. Seven students (5 postgraduate, 2 undergraduate) from Southern University engaged in 4-day program including academic sessions, cultural exchange, and facility tours as part of strengthening global academic ties.
• Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CILT International establishing direct pathway for KSB MSc graduates (Procurement and Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management) to attain Chartered Membership (CMILT) status. Partnership includes student/faculty exchange programs, professional development, curriculum alignment, and joint research projects. CILT Global President Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey led delegation to KSB.
• Association of African Business Schools (AABS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AABS accreditation validates KSB's program quality and standards, positioning the school among recognized business schools in Africa. The accreditation demonstrates commitment to excellence in business education.
• Arizona State University (ASU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2020$15 million USAID-funded partnership for establishment of global centre in supply chain management (CARISCA). ASU and KNUST collaborate on research, innovation, and supply chain education excellence in Africa through this flagship initiative.
• Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2019CIPS accreditation seminar held at KSB, ensuring curriculum equips students with qualifications and skills to excel. Partnership with prestigious institution ensures SCIS department programs meet evolving industry demands for procurement and supply chain professionals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Ghana Business School (UGBS): The University of Ghana Business School is the most direct peer to KSB — a Ghanaian university-based business school offering BSc, MBA, MSc, and PhD programmes across overlapping disciplines. Both schools compete for the same Ghanaian applicant pool, AABS accreditation, and graduate employment outcomes.
• Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA): GIMPA is one of Ghana's oldest and largest business and public administration schools, with similar undergraduate, MBA, and executive programmes. It competes head-to-head with KSB in the Ghanaian market for working professionals and graduate applicants, and offers comparable public-sector-adjacent brand positioning.
• University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA): UPSA is a Ghanaian public university specialising in professional and business education with undergraduate and graduate programmes in accounting, finance, marketing, and management. It targets a similar applicant pool as KSB and competes on price, location (Accra vs Kumasi), and professional accreditation.
• Lagos Business School (Pan-Atlantic University): Lagos Business School is a leading private African business school offering MBA, Executive MBA, and executive education programmes with multiple AACSB-equivalent accreditations. While located in Nigeria, it competes with KSB for the same West African working-professional talent pool and regional employer recruitment.

Emerging players

• Ashesi University: Ashesi University is a leading private liberal-arts and business university in Ghana offering undergraduate business programmes with strong ethics, entrepreneurship, and technology orientation. It competes for the highest-quality Ghanaian undergraduate applicants and increasingly for graduate-level executive education.
• African Leadership University (ALU): ALU is a pan-African higher-education network offering undergraduate and graduate business programmes across multiple African campuses. It targets similar high-achieving African students with a mission-driven, leadership-focused model and represents an emerging alternative to traditional university-based business schools like KSB.

Regional players

• Strathmore Business School: Strathmore Business School is a leading private business school in Kenya offering MBA, Executive MBA, and specialised graduate programmes with strong corporate-recruitment outcomes. It serves as the East African analogue of KSB and competes for continental ranking recognition and donor-funded research partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Wits Business School: Wits Business School is a leading African business school at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa with full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programmes. While located in a different country, it sets the continental benchmark for AABS-equivalent standing, research output, and multinational corporate recruitment.
• University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB): UCT GSB is Africa's most internationally ranked business school, offering MBA, EMBA, and specialised masters programmes with strong global accreditations. It represents the aspirational benchmark KSB competes against for international-recognition signalling, faculty recruitment, and donor-funded research partnerships.
• INSEAD: INSEAD is a globally ranked business school with campuses in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East offering top-tier MBA and executive education programmes. While not Africa-based, it competes for the same high-calibre African professionals via global online and modular programmes, setting the upper bound on the price-quality tradeoff KSB must navigate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about KNUST School of Business (KSB)