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Let Universities Establish Partnership
- - Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw
From J.Y Owusu, GNA Special Correspondent, Adidjan-Cocody
Abidjan-Cocody, Dec. 26, Ghanadot/GNA
- The Vice Chancellor of the University of Education,
Winneba, Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, has called for
strong partnership among Universities in Africa, especially
those in the West Africa sub region.
African Universities, Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said, should also
create networks in international capacity building, exchange
ideas with one another and expose their students to
developments and programmes pertaining in sister African
institutions to broaden their horizon.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw made the call at a special award
ceremony organized by the University of Charles-Louis
De...Montesquieu (UCLM) in Abidjan-Cocody, Cote d'Ivoire, to
confer Honorary PhD degrees on three distinguished
personalities for their excellent contributions to the
development of Africa.
They are, Mr. Bernard B. Dadie a former Minister and Mr.
Charles Kofi Diby, Economic and Finance Minister, both of
Cote d'Ivoire, and Mr. Maitre Titinga from Burkina Faso.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw, who was the guest speaker was
appointed a Member of the University of Charles Louis
De...Montesquieu Award Committee in October, this year.
He said, besides helping to strengthen common cultural,
social and political ties of countries in the Sub-Region, it
would go a long way to promote education, particularly the
study of the French language by citizens of English speaking
countries.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said the University of Education
attached great importance to partnership and collaboration
with academic and research institutions abroad.
He said that in order to effectively maintain and promote
partnership and collaboration UEW had initiated, a special
unit to handle international issues.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said the Office of International
Relations, was to coordinate the University's International
activities, provide information and support faculties,
schools and the various academic units in line with the
University's international strategic objectives.
He said UEW had bilateral collaborative agreements with
several institutions in the United States of America (USA),
Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.
Experience has shown that collaboration with the developed
countries tends to have a paternalistic tendency, with the
African partner playing second fiddle to the advanced
country, Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw stated.
"This is the reason why UEW is seeking to establish
partnership with sister African countries, especially those
in the West African Sub-Region, adding that there is the
need for us to exchange expertise in various identifiable
areas for the good of our people and nations," the Vice
Chancellor said.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw stressed, "There is also the dire need
for African Universities to give assistance to each other,
particularly in the area of post graduate studies", saying
"there is no doubt that we are all seriously handicapped in
this area".
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw commended the Director of International
Relations and Head of the Department of French of UEW for
taking the initiative to create an inter-University PhD
programme within the context of an International University
School of Doctoral Studies.
The objectives of the programme include, the constitution of
a consortium of experts to provide a pool from which the
individual Universities could draw, Facilitate African
Inter-University co-operation; contribute to a better staff
development programme and certification; put varied and
diversified documentation at the disposal of researchers and
enhance the free movement of researchers within the setting
of the various Universities.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw described the goals of the programme as
"very laudable", especially in view of the fact that
Universities on the African continent lacked adequate
expertise to supervise students undertaking research at the
very high level.
He said that the programme would also enhance cross-cultural
exchange between Francophone and Anglophone countries.
The Vice Chancellor charged the Management Committee of the
programme to put in their maximum effort to realize "these
noble ideals" in good time.
The President of the Award Committee, Professor Francis V.
Wodie,
welcomed Prof.
Asabere-Ameyaw's suggestions and expressed the hope that
heads of African institutes of higher learning would embrace
and make good use of the proposals to promote the
socio-economic, cultural, spiritual and political well being
of Africa.
He said the award was instituted to promote and encourage
personalities in the science, arts and culture in Africa and
education in general.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw took advantage of the visit to tour a
number of tertiary institutions in Cote d'Ivoire and
interacted with the Authorities of those institutions on
bilateral issues.
Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw was accompanied by Professor Francis
Joppa, Director, responsible for International Relations and
Dr. Dominic Amuzu, Head of the French Department, both of
the UEW.
GNA
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