University of Ghana Hosts 2017 IAU Conference

A Group Picture of Participants after the Opening Ceremony

The International Association of Universities (IAU) has held a 3-day conference on the theme “Leadership for a changing Public-Private Higher Education Funding Landscape” hosted by the University of Ghana. The three-day conference was preceded by the Global Meeting of Associations within the IAU.

The 3-day event begun with an inaugural keynote on the theme for the conference by Professor Pedro Teixeira, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, University of Porto, Portugal.

In his address, he pointed out that, the huge expansion of Higher Education in both public and private institutions was necessary not only because of economic reasons but also due to the opportunities it provides degree holders. This he said has placed financial stress on the institutions as academic staff and society have high expectations for them in their efforts to provide better facilities.

Prof. Teixeira also touched on some major trends in Higher Education Funding Policy, sources of income diversification and some main institutional challenges to revenue diversification for further deliberation by participants.

Officially opening the ceremony, Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State for Tertiary Education acknowledged the dwindling resources from the state due to equally competing expenditures in other sectors. He also expressed grave worry over the unfair placement of African Universities in the global rankings, saying that although it was not a reliable tool for measuring academic standards, it however has a rippling effect on the image of education in Africa.

Professor Kwesi Yankah, Minister of State for Tertiary Education

Nonetheless, Prof. Yankah called on both public and private Universities in Africa to work together to devise sustainable ways of funding higher education and making themselves attractive on the global market. He entreated participants to discuss on what he described as skewed migration patterns and develop necessary strategies to bring about balance and equity.

President of IAU, Professor Pam Fredman extended her profound appreciation to the University of Ghana and all other stakeholders for the diverse roles played in hosting this year’s conference. She noted that since it was the mission of the IAU to be the most important voice for the promotion and advancement of higher education, there was the need to have a united front in order to advocate for change at global levels.

President of IAU, Professor Pam Fredman

Welcoming participants, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu admonished participants to be cautious not to lose the values and freedoms that come with being the world’s knowledge economy in their search to find creative and ingenious ways of self-sustenance.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu

Dr. Hilligie Van’t Land, Secretary-General of the IAU, while acknowledging the support of the host institution, University of Ghana, in facilitating arrangements for the Conference, announced the University of Malaya in Malaysia as the host for the 2018 IAU Conference.

Participants during plenary sessions, deliberated on the roles and expectations for and of higher education leaders today, higher education and research; ethical challenges for a transforming world and institutional and societal expectations of higher education leadership.

The three-day conference brought together more than 200 participants from IAU member universities across the globe. Among the dignitaries present at the Opening Ceremony was Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister for Education.

The 2017 IAU Conference was climaxed with a gala dinner and participants later took a tour of the University community and some parts of Ghana.

 

Please click here to access the Conference Brochure

Please click here to access the Address of the Minister of State for Tertiary Education, representing His Excellency The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 

 

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