MIASA Public Round Table in collaboration with CEGENSA

Speakers:

Professor Awo Manu Asiedu (University of Ghana)

Dr. Doris Akyere Boateng (University of Ghana)

Dr. Jenny Mbaye (City University of London)

The Round Table was part of the annual MIASA workshop on Female Academic Careers in Africa, organised in collaboration with the German Historical Institute Paris (GHIP) and the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA), University of Ghana (UG), from 15 to 17 February 2023 on Legon campus. Twenty early- and mid-career female academics from the Social Sciences and Humanities, who are based at universities or research institutes across the African continent, participate in this workshop.

The rondtable was on the theme: "Positioning and Preparing Oneself for Leadership in Academia” 

The workshop offered time and space to discuss the challenges and opportunities for women in academia in African contexts. Participants from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa are accompanied by a professional coach through different modules that address the issues of (i) how to build up efficient teams, (ii) how to deal with university hierarchies, (iii) how to address conflicts at the workplace, and (iv) how to proceed an academic career with multiple time constraints. The workshop explores professional relationships in academic practice.

The coaching was aimed at assisting participants to define their own working and leadership style, but also to consider how to adapt oneself to different contexts and challenges. The overarching purpose was to encourage early- and mid-career female academics in Ghana and other African countries to further build up their careers, to develop strategies for keeping a work-life-balance that allows for prospering in one’s research and academic work, and to become ready for taking up leadership positions and/or seizing other professional opportunities.

Conveners:

Dr. Susann Baller, Director (MIASA)

Dr. Grace Diabah, Director (MIASA)

Dr. Deborah Atobrah, Director (CEGENSA)

Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante, Head of Department of Geography and Human Resources, former Director (MIASA)

Press Releases:

• "MIASA organizes public roundtable discussion for female academics in Africa'', Ghanaweb, 5th March, 2023
• "MIASA Holds 6th Roundtable Discussion on Women's Leadership", University of Ghana article, 24 February, 2023
• "Panelists urged women to take leadership position to prove mettle", Ghanaian Times, 22nd March, 2023
• "UG: Develop confidence, strong mindsets in your work places", – Lecturer urges Ghanaian women", Radio Univers, 17th February, 2023
• "MIASA mentors female academics to advance their careers, take up leadership roles", Modern Ghana, 17th February, 2023.