The UG Team at Georgetown University - Qatar
A delegation of university officials led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo has embarked on a partnership tour to Qatar. The team, which included of Prof. Gordon Awandare (Pro-Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Academic and Student Affairs) and Mrs. Arhizah Blay-Abiti (Senior Assistant Registrar, Office of the Vice-Chancellor), visited selected institutions in Qatar.
The visit forms part of University of Ghana’s bid to expand its collaboration with institutions of higher learning in the Middle East. In Qatar, the team visited the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies, Georgetown University– Qatar, Ministry of Education, Qatar University, Hamid Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation and Qatar National Library.
At the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies (DIGS), the team was received by the Chief Operating Officer and two other officials of the Institute. Both institutions discussed the possibility of partnership in areas of common interest including research partnerships, student exchange programmes, internships, joint supervision, modular teaching, and experiential learning. These will be executed through key units within UG such as the Institute for Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD), and the Department of Modern Languages (Arabic Section).
The UG Team at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
The team also paid a visit to the Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) which is associated with the Georgetown University of the United States of America. Both institutions had discussions on promoting education through partnership in the study of international relations, history, political science, and economics.
As part of the working visit, the UG delegation met with Her Excellency Buthaina Ali Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Nuaimi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to pursue areas of mutual interest such as educational research and capacity development.
The UG Team with the Minister and Under-Secretary of Ministry of Education and Higher Education
University of Ghana signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Qatar University (QU) in 2019 to explore areas of common interest including knowledge sharing, joint teaching and supervision and research. Further to the terms of the MoU, the Team met with the President of Qatar University, Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham, and Mr. Cesar Wazen, Director of International Affairs. During the meeting, potential areas of partnerships on animal research, biomedical sciences and crop science were deliberated.
The UG Team with the QU President (2nd right) and QU Director of International Affairs (1st right) at Qatar University
At the Hamid Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), the graduate and research hub of the Qatar Foundation Education City, the delegation was informed that 34 out of 35 programmes run by the University were graduate programmes. KBKU has limited merit-based scholarships which could be accessed by Ghanaian students. University of Ghana is exploring the following areas for collaboration; artificial intelligence, cyber security, life sciences, data analytics, and health sciences. In addition, there is an opportunity for UG faculty in the physical and mathematical sciences, without terminal degrees, to complete their PhDs at HBKU.
Mr. Francisco J. Marmolejo, Higher Education President & Education Advisor and his team received the UG delegation during their visit to the Qatar Foundation (QF). The Qatar Foundation is a state-led non-profit organisation in Qatar which leverages on the strengths of its eight (8) partner universities in what it calls the ‘Education City’ to fulfill the Qatar national human resource capacity building agenda.
It was agreed that QF will facilitate UG collaboration with its partner universities and coordinate knowledge sharing between both institutions in biomedical sciences, computer science and engineering, artificial intelligence, politics, and international relations. Additionally, QF will support UG’s collaboration with the Qatar government on food security, agricultural practices and energy.
The UG Team at Qatar Foundation
The Team rounded up its trip with a visit to the Qatar National Library to explore potential areas of collaboration in knowledge management.
The Ghanaian Mission in Qatar is highly commended for the great facilitation provided, under the stewardship of the immediate past Ambassador of Ghana to Qatar, H.E. Amb. Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Enos and Ag. Head of Chancery, Mrs. Eunice B. Amponsah. The Qatar Ministry of Education and Higher Education is also deeply appreciated for logistical support.
