Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey and Chancellor of the Washington University Prof. Mark S. Wrighton signing the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions. Looking on are, from left, Prof. Jim Wertsch, Vice-Chancellor in charge of International Affairs, Prof. N.A. Adamafio, Dean of International Programmes, and Prof. Jean Allman, Head of History Department and Washington University Ambassador.
The University of Ghana and the Washington University in St. Louis, U.S. have signed an agreement to formalize their partnership in areas of common interests.
The Agreement was signed by Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Mark S. Wrighton, Chancellor of the Washington University, on behalf of their respective institutions at a meeting of senior representatives of the two Universities, held at the University of Ghana at Legon.
The proposed collaboration will span the Medical Sciences, Social Work, History, English Language, Philosophy, and African Studies.
In a brief presentation, Prof. Wrighton described the Washington University in St. Louis, which was founded in 1853, as one of America’s premier private research institutions. He noted that the University offers programmes in Medicine, Medical Sciences and Research, Social Work, Law, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering among others. He also spoke about the McDonnell International Scholars Academy which seeks to strengthen Washington University’s partnerships with people, universities, and countries around the world. Prof. Wrighton said the goal of the Academy is to foster ties with leading research universities of the world and expressed delighted that the University of Ghana would be its first signatory in Africa.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Samuel Agyei-Mensah presented an overview of academic programmes of the University of Ghana, while the Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. Gyapong, spoke on attempts by the University of Ghana to promote research by attracting funding, and establishing the right intellectual property environment, among others. The Dean of International Programmes, Prof. N.A. Adamafio who was also at the meeting, briefed the Washington University delegation on internationalization efforts by the University of Ghana, while the Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), Prof. Yao Tettey made a presentation on the programmes, research activities, and collaborative activities of the UGMS.
The Head of the Department of History of the University of Ghana, Dr. D. E. K. Baku conveyed appreciation on behalf of his Department to Prof. Allman for her support to his Department in recruitment of international faculty. He noted that this has enriched the programmes offered at the Department. He expressed the department’s desire to deepen the existing partnership with Washington University.
Others who participated in the meeting were the Dean of the School of Public Health, Prof. Richard Adanu, Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Prof. Kwadwo Koram, Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, Prof. Clement Ahiadeke and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Cephas Omenyo. The Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, Prof. Chris Gordon, Registrar of the University of Ghana, Mr. J. M. Budu, and Retired Academic and Consultant to the University of Ghana, Dr. Peter French were also in attendance.
The delegation from the Washington University included Prof. Jim Wertsch, Vice-Chancellor in charge of International Affairs and Prof. Jean Allman, Head of History Department and Washington University Ambassador.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor noted the challenges the University was facing in properly positioning the various programme offerings and sourcing adequate funding for them. He hoped that with leadership from his colleague-faculty members and partner institutions, these goals would be achieved.
