Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, received at a recent courtesy call, a delegation from the European University Institute (EUI) and Indiana University, USA, to discuss potential collaborations and areas of partnership.
During the courtesy call, Prof. Renauld Dehousse, President of the European University Institute, expressed the EUI's interest in collaborating with the University of Ghana in the energy sector.
In response, Prof. Amfo welcomed the delegations and acknowledged the longstanding relationship between the University of Ghana and Indiana University. She emphasised the need to explore other areas of collaboration, including teaching, research, and exchange programmes, to enhance their ties further.
Prof. Amfo highlighted the University of Ghana's capacity in Health Sciences, particularly in infectious and non-communicable diseases. She cited that “two World Bank African Centres of Excellence affiliated with the University, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) and the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), have excelled in health-related research over the years.”
She also noted that the University of Ghana is part of the Association of African Universities (ARUA), which aims to create a platform for research collaboration among important universities in Africa.
Prof. Amfo pointed out that “climate issues and pandemics are significant challenges and addressing them requires collaboration across continents.” She highlighted the potential for fruitful cooperation between the University of Ghana and the European University Institute, particularly in priority areas such as migration, climate change, and inequality.
The EUI delegation was particularly interested in collaborating with institutes such as the Institute of Statistical, Social, and Economic Research (ISSER) as well as the International Programmes Office. The team emphasised the potential for research partnerships in the area of energy regulation.
The delegation revealed their plans to establish a capacity-building programme in Accra, in collaboration with the African Capacity Foundation (ACF), with support from the African Union and the Rockefeller Foundation. This programme aims to provide short training programmes in the energy sector to thousands of people.
Reacting to the interest of the delegation, Prof. Amfo welcomed the prospect of research collaboration with EUI and acknowledged that quality training in the energy sector required a strong connection to fundamental research.
Discussions at the meeting also focused on the possibility of partnership in the areas of teaching and exchange programmes for the benefit of students, faculty and staff from the institutions.
The visit by the European University Institute and Indiana University delegations marks a significant step towards fostering international partnerships and promoting academic excellence at the University of Ghana.
