Prof. Ernest Aryeetey in a discussion with the CAPREx delegation
The Cambridge Africa Partnership for Research Excellence (CAPREx) programme have recently held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the University of Ghana.
During the meeting a delegation paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof Ernest Aryeetey. The delegation was made up of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, Dr. Jennifer Barnes, Director, Cambridge- Africa Programme, Prof. David Dunne, Head of Department, Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Prof. James Wood, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Makerere University, Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research Innovation Development, Prof John Gyapong and UG CAPREx Project Champion, Prof. Yaa Ntiamoah Baidu.
Dr. Jennifer Barnes, Director, Cambridge- Africa Programme noted that the CAPREx fellowship programmes have provided opportunities for Fellows to imbibe new teaching and learning models and experience facilities that may be unavailable in their home institutions. She added that the programme is also benefitting from exceptional talents in Ghana and Africa. She emphasized the need to develop other ways of funding the program to ensure its continuous run, in other to ensure that the problems in Africa are solved by Africans.
Dr. Barnes briefed the Vice-Chancellor on some issues that had come up for discussion at the meeting.
The Director, Cambridge- Africa Programme, Prof. David Dunne, noted that for a University to be considered world class, it must engage with the world. He said the project offers a wide range of programmes available for Africans to equip them with the necessary expertise and resources.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ernest Aryeetey, described the AGM as important because it reflects on the kind of future the University of Ghana is looking forward to. He disclosed that, he sees the partnership as a learning opportunity for students and staff of the University of Ghana.
Prof. Ernest Aryeetey noted that, through the Office of the Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) the University of Ghana is now reaching out to the private sector. He also mentioned the recent establishment of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology and which is designed to engage industry through research in other to solve the problems of industry.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development, Prof. John Gyapong said the program is worth investing in and urged the partners to consider a possible extension because of the positive feedback received in the areas of Engineering and the Biological Sciences. He hoped that in the future, the Humanities would also have the opportunity to benefit from the programme.
Earlier, the CAPREx Project Partners visited a new laboratory at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences called, Energy Materials Research Laboratory. The team was received by the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Prof. Stephen Abenney-Mickson.
A Lecturer at the Department of Material Science and Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Dr. David Dodoo- Arhin, who is a beneficiary of the project noted that the Energy Materials Research Laboratory, is currently a small laboratory which would be developed into a multipurpose laboratory in the future. He said the equipment and the establishment of the laboratory for solar cell projects which cost £19,668 was sponsored by Albarada Trust and was presented when he won the best presentation at the MAT4 Energy Conference, at Grenoble in France.
