Prof. Samuel Yaw Akomea of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi  has been named Best Professor in the 2025–2 round of the X-Culture International Collaboration Project, a prestigious global experiential learning initiative.

Prof. Akomea received the award after being ranked top among 198 professors worldwide, whose 6,165 students from 162 universities in 53 countries across six continents participated in the programme during the semester.

X-Culture is a large-scale international project designed to give students hands-on experience in global virtual collaboration, requiring them to work in multicultural teams to develop business solutions for real companies.

As part of the 2025–2 cohort, 163 KNUST students enrolled in Prof. Akomea’s course participated in the programme, working with peers from different countries to produce comprehensive business proposals and implementation plans.

According to the project’s evaluation, participating students also engaged directly with company CEOs and founders through live webinars, gaining insights into business operations and receiving feedback on their ideas.

Beyond teaching, the project serves as a research platform for studying the performance and dynamics of global virtual teams.

In a citation accompanying the award, X-Culture Founder and Coordinator, Dr. Vasyl Taras, said Prof. Akomea consistently demonstrated excellence as an educator, noting that he fulfilled all responsibilities on time, supported students diligently, and promptly addressed their concerns.

The project described his commitment as going “above and beyond” to ensure a meaningful learning experience for students.

The citation also highlighted the strong performance of KNUST students, describing them as well-prepared, proactive in engaging with international teammates, and making strong intellectual contributions to their global teams.

X-Culture has received multiple international awards for its contribution to experiential learning and cross-institutional collaboration, including recognition from the Academy of Management and the Academy of International Business.