The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo has intimated that institutions of Higher Education have a mandate to train leaders to provide localized solutions to global challenges including food insecurity, health issues, climate crisis, war, conflict and displacement among others. She noted that institutions of Higher Education are well placed with considerable resources including human resources to provide cutting edge solutions to society's challenges through collaborative research and extension services.
The Vice-Chancellor made these remarks when she participated in a panel discussion on the topic “The Future of Higher Education in an Interconnected and Global Context” at the International Association of Universities (IAU) 16th General Conference held at the University College Dublin, Ireland from 25-28 October, 2022. Other members of the panel included Prof. Patrick Deane, Principal of Queen’s University, Canada and Prof. Fadlo R. Khuri, President of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. The panel was chaired by the immediate past President of IAU and former Rector of Gothenburg University, Prof Pam Fredman.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Appiah Amfo making a submission during the panel discussion at the Conference
The international conference which was on the theme: "Relevance and Value of Universities to Future Society", had a number of speakers from member universities on key topics including the Transformative Power of Higher Education; Responding to Localized Needs in a Globalized World; How Digital Transformation is Impacting Teaching and Learning; and Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development, during the plenary and breakout sessions.
Citing examples from the University’s research institutions especially the World Bank Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE), the Vice-Chancellor noted the instrumental role the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogen (WACCBIP) has played in the field of biomedical research, particularly the sequencing of genome during the early days of COVID-19. The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) has also distinguished itself internationally in the training of plant breeders to promote food security, resulting in the recent recognition of its founding Director who received the 2022 African Food Prize Award. The West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) is also championing research and education to improve genetic health in Africa for all.
This year's conference which was the first in-person conference in four years sought to provide a global forum for leaders and stakeholders of higher education to deliberate on many important issues including the relevance and value of higher education to societies and identifying transformations required moving forward.
At the Conference, the Vice-Chancellor was elected to serve a four-year term as a member of the new Administrative Board under the leadership of Professor Andrew Deeks, President and Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University in Australia. The Administrative Board ensures that decisions of the General Conference are implemented and guides the work of the IAU Secretariat.
Prof. Appiah Amfo in a group photo with participants at the Conference
The 2023 IAU International Conference is expected to be hosted by Qatar University from 27-29 November 2023 on the theme “Higher Education with Impact: the Importance of Intercultural Learning and Dialogue”.
