Fondazione EDU Scholarship Officials Pay Courtesy Call on Pro-Vice Chancellor

Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo receiving one of the officials

Two officials of the Fondazione Edu Scholarship Scheme from Italy have paid a courtesy call on the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs (ASA), Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo. The officials, Ms. Chiara Piaggo and Ms. Valentina Mutt were in the University to interview and recruit more students on to the scholarship as well as interact with graduates and undergraduate beneficiaries of the scheme.

Welcoming the team, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo expressed appreciation on behalf of the University to the Foundation and the Stefanni family for the partnership that has existed between the University and the foundation over the years. She was impressed at the donors’ active participation in the selection process of student beneficiaries, noting that this motivates and inspires students to work harder, knowing they are being monitored. She further commended the Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO) for the efforts made in ensuring that all processes and requirements are met. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor noted that with the  introduction of the Free Senior High School, the University is likely to enroll more needy students in the next academic year hence;  the need to increase the intake.

Mrs. Christine Baning, Head, Student Financial Aid Office

Mrs. Christine Baning, Head of the Student Financial Aid Office said that the Fondazione Edu Scholarship Scheme is an Italian based family foundation of the Stefanni family aimed at promoting young people’s access to higher education in developing countries. She stated that since its early activities in 2006, Fondazione Edu has afforded students in several African countries the opportunity to access University education in their country of origin as a way of enhancing individual growth and enriching professional competences that can, in the long run, contribute to the regions’ socio-economic development. She added that Fondazione Edu also promotes research and analysis on African Tertiary Education related issues and encourages initiatives of networking and knowledge sharing between the different actors concerned. She indicated that the Foundation has been offering scholarships covering educational expenses including fees and living costs to undergraduate students through the Students Financial Aid Office since 2013/2014 academic year.

Mrs. Christine Baning noted that currently, 26 undergraduate students are on the scholarship and beneficiary students who fall below the 3.0 CGPA are dropped. She added that there were a total of 64 applicants for the 2019/2020 academic year made up of 32 males and 32 females. She disclosed that there was a first shortlist interviews which was followed by final shortlist interviews of 33 applicants with 15 being males and 18 females. She revealed that there were 3 batches of graduates; and five beneficiaries were dropped for the 2018/2019 academic year because they could not maintain grade point requirement.

In brief remarks, Ms. Chiara Piaggo expressed excitement at the partnership with University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She mentioned that interviews with new candidates had been completed and successful applicants will be chosen by the Board of Directors. She was elated that for the first time, there were more females than males as well as two Law students who applied this year.

Ms. Chiara Piaggo and Ms. Valentina Mutt of Fondazione Edu Scholarship Scheme

According to Ms. Valentina Mutt, University of Ghana is the only institution the scheme has a direct partnership with and where important activities transpire. She indicated that they were considering giving scholarships to students studying in different public Universities and increase females intake in the future.

A lunch with the beneficiaries was later held at the Students Financial Aid Office Conference Hall.

Prof. Godfred Bokpin, Dean of Student Affairs who was Chairman for the ceremony expressed his gratitude to the foundation for their benevolence. He added that donors like Fondazione Edu Scholarship help make the University’s hope of making education accessible to all possible. He recounted that parents have different income levels and was disheartened at financial related dropouts. According to Prof. Bokpin, some students who will be admitted next academic year might be needy and the University is likely to enroll more students than the previous years hence the need to increase the intake. He encouraged the continuing students to work harder in order to remain as beneficiaries on the scholarship. Certificates and T-shirts were presented to the graduates and continuing students. The graduates in turn presented a citation to the foundation.  

Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo with the two visitors and other University officials