University Of Ghana Signs Agreement With University Of Sussex

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor exchanging pleasantries with Professor Michael Farthing after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

The University of Ghana recently signed a formal agreement with the University of Sussex to promote co-operation between the two institutions in education and in academic research.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) provides the platform for enhanced collaboration between the two universities which seeks to explore co-operation on academic programmes; development of joint research activities; facilitation of university staff exchanges or mutual visits to both institutions; training and development of Doctoral students; student exchange and/or visiting programmes; exchange of information, including the results of teaching and research collaboration; and any other activities viewed to be mutually beneficial. 

Speaking after the formal signing ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, described the link with Sussex as a great opportunity for the university to work with a world-class university with a strong research tradition, especially as the University of Ghana has as its vision of becoming a world class research-intensive university over the next decade.

This will start with joint collaborative research and academic exchange between the College of Education at the University of Ghana and the Department of Education in the School of Education and Social Work, University of Sussex. As part of the agreement, Sussex’s eight-week International Summer School has confirmed two full scholarships for the University of Ghana.

While on the visit, the Vice Chancellor delivered a talk on the platform of the Sussex Development Lecture series on approaches that have worked in strengthening African universities for economic transformation.

Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor, delivering the lecture.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, delivered the Sussex Development lecture under the theme Strengthening African Universities for Economic Transformation: Approaches that Work. Prof. Aryeetey outlined a recent history of transformation in two African universities: the University of Ghana and the Makarere University in Uganda. Focusing on the orientations of the two universities, their relationship with national governments, their strengths and weaknesses, and attitudes to change, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the achievements of the two institutions. The lecture was attended by a wide range of University of Sussex faculty, students, the Ghana High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Victor Smith, and a delegation from the Ghana High Commission.

H.E. Victor Smith, Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Professor Aryeetey also met with a number of students, including the President of the African & Caribbean Society (ACS).

Later in the evening, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Davies, hosted a dinner in honour of the Ghanaian visitors and the Ghana High Commissioner. The visit was marked with a variety of events including a welcome message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Sussex, round table discussions with the School of Global Studies, Department of Education faculty, Institute of Development Studies, Doctoral School and a welcome dinner with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and other leaders of the Department of Education, International Partnerships Officer and the Senior International Officer for Africa. The visit marked the formal recognition of collaboration between the College of Education and the University of Sussex Department of Education. There were planning meetings for a University of Ghana/University of Sussex jointly organized International Education Research conference in Ghana from May 4-5 to be hosted by the College of Education. In addition, the University of Sussex Doctoral School awarded two full scholarships to the College of Education for their annual International Summer School The visit was facilitated by Professor Brian Hudson and Professor Kwame Akyeampong of the School of Education and Social Work.

Professor Kwame Akyeampong  and  Professor Brian Hudson

(Front Row: second from the left is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey. The Ghana High Commissioner, His Excellency, Victor E. Smith (centre); next to him is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Sussex, Professor Michael Davies (third from left); Dr. Yaa Cole (third from left) and Mrs. Mercy Haizel Ashia, Registrar (second from right). The Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Cephas Omenyo (second row, third from right)

The visit provided an opportunity to plan the next stage in the collaboration, which will involve a jointly organised conference in Accra on the theme of ‘Education Research and Development in Africa’ from 4-5 May 2015.

Plans were also made to develop links between the Sussex Africa Centre and the University of Ghana’s renowned Institute of African Studies.

The Vice Chancellor was accompanied on his visit by the Registrar, Mrs Mercy Haizel Ashia, the Provost of the College of Education, Professor Cephas Omenyo; and the Coordinator of the School of Education and Leadership at the College of Education, Dr Yaa Cole.