The initiative, facilitated through Alt Ed, the corporate training arm of AAA, gives 67 participants from across Ghana's advertising and media sector the opportunity to explore how new AI tools can be integrated into day-to-day practice, says the duo.

The course is co-ordinated by Anthea Whitehead, Campus Head at the AAA School of Advertising in Cape Town, Luca Gallarelli, AAA alumnus and Group CEO of TBWA's, and Graham Cruikshanks, Director of Africa Operations at TBWA, says the duo.

The partnership comes together organically. Whitehead, who has spent years working at the intersection of education and industry, had already been in discussions with AAG about running an AI-focused course. She reconnected with Gallarelli, a former student of hers, and through him, they bring TBWA into the fold. Cruikshanks' Africa-wide remit makes him a natural fit to support delivery, while AAA's academic reputation in Africa gives the programme credibility. The collaboration grows quickly from that starting point into a fully-fledged pilot, says the duo.

For many attendees, the programme is their first chance to engage with AI tools in a structured way. Whitehead says the strong response showes how eager professionals are for training that moves beyond theory into practice. "The industry doesn't just want to be told about AI — it wants to work with it and understand how it can impact what we do," she explains. "Our next sessions will build on this model, pairing presentations with toolkits and hands-on exploration so participants can leave with skills they can apply immediately."

She adds that while AI was the focus of the pilot, core industry capabilities remain just as important. Writing effective briefs, managing clients and running projects on budget are still essential, and short, skills-focused sessions can help professionals refresh those fundamentals. Another key takeaway, she notes, is the need for local relevance. "At present, AI largely thinks in Western paradigms. For it to be useful in Africa, we need tools that understand our markets, languages and consumer behaviour. That is the real frontier."

Cruikshanks emphasises that the programme demonstrates what can be achieved when academic institutions and agencies collaborate. "There is enormous talent across Africa but very few structured opportunities for professional training," he says. "By combining AAA's framework with the applied knowledge of practitioners, we can build capability in ways that respond directly to industry needs."

Gallarelli agrees, highlighting that the Ghana pilot should be seen as the start of a broader effort. "There is a clear appetite for further modules, from Account Management to creative entrepreneurship," he says. "Our goal is to build a flexible, skills-driven programme developed with the industry and for the industry, and to make it accessible across the continent."

The partners are already exploring how the programme can be extended. Content from the Ghana sessions is shared with TBWA's extensive Africa network, aiming to give agencies across the continent the chance to revisit and apply the material internally. Plans are also under discussion to replicate the model in other markets, including Nigeria, Kenya and Namibia. Longer term, the ambition is to develop a wider advertising training pathway covering the full value chain — from briefing and strategy through to execution and evaluation — with both face-to-face and online delivery options, says the duo.

Reflecting on the pilot, Whitehead describes it as a launchpad rather than a conclusion. "The appetite for learning was inspiring. This is the beginning of something new, and there is a real opportunity to build a knowledge community that can strengthen the industry across Africa."

The AAA School of Advertising has been a South African advertising institution for more than 35 years. Its partnership with TBWA and AAG aims to mark a new chapter: extending skills development beyond South Africa to support the growth of advertising across the continent, concludes the duo.

For more information, visit www.aaaschool.ac.za. You can also follow The AAA School of Advertising on Facebook, X, or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor