Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo Assumes New Role as Chair of Worldwide Universities Network
The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) has announced the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, as its new Chair.
In a statement announcing the appointment, WUN noted that Professor Amfo brings a combination of scholarly excellence, institutional leadership and a strong commitment to the role of universities in addressing global challenges. The Network indicated that her appointment reflects the diversity of its membership and its longstanding commitment to international collaboration in higher education and research.
Professor Amfo assumes the role after serving as Vice-Chair of WUN, where she contributed to strengthening collaboration among member universities and advancing shared research priorities.
Commenting on her appointment, Professor Amfo described WUN as an important platform for promoting impactful global research partnerships. “WUN is an engine for global research collaboration. I am looking forward to working with the new Executive Director, Professor Dawn Freshwater, to strengthen our collaborations and achieve greater impact,” she said.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the importance of inclusive partnerships across regions, noting that the Network’s Global North-Global South connections enrich research and strengthen its relevance to diverse communities. “One of our Network’s strengths is its Global North-Global South connectedness. This ensures that our research collaborations reflect the full breadth of global expertise and experience,” she stated.
Professor Amfo further emphasised the importance of international cooperation in addressing complex global challenges. “We must work together for maximum impact as our communities confront challenges that collaborative research must solve,” she added.
Professor Amfo succeeds Professor Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Alberta, Canada, the immediate past Chair of the Network.
The University welcomes Professor Amfo’s appointment and acknowledges her stellar leadership, which has earned her this distinguished international role. The appointment reflects the growing recognition of Professor Amfo’s contributions to higher education leadership and the University of Ghana’s expanding role in global research and academic collaboration.
The appointment also reinforces the University’s vision of achieving global impact through innovative research, teaching and learning while strengthening its position as a leading global partner in knowledge creation, research collaboration and solutions-oriented scholarship.
The University is confident that under Professor Amfo’s leadership, WUN will continue to deepen collaboration among member institutions and enhance the impact of global research for the benefit of communities worldwide.
The Worldwide Universities Network is a leading global higher education and research partnership comprising 24 research-intensive universities across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. Through collaborative research, capacity building and student engagement, the Network advances global research and education while addressing challenges of international significance.