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Ghana High Commissioner visits the UFS

24 June 2022 | Story Dr Nitha Ramnath

“We are trying to close the divide between Ghanaian and South African higher education institutions. Many Ghanaians look to UK and US universities as their first option. However, the same level of education, at a far less rate, is offered at South African higher education institutions – and the University of the Free State in particular.”

These were some of the sentiments shared by His Excellency Mr Charles Asuako Owiredu, High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to South Africa, during his recent visit to the University of the Free State.

The High Commissioner, accompanied by the Deputy High Commissioner and Head of Protocol, was hosted by Prof Francis Petersen. After a successful meeting, the students and academics from the Ghanaian community were also engaged. “The Vice-Chancellor was full of praise for the Ghanaian students and their performance at the UFS,” said the High Commissioner.

Prof Chitja Twala, Vice-Dean in the Faculty of the Humanities, highlighted the longstanding relationship that the UFS has with the University of Ghana. “We have a good relationship with the Department of History at the University of Ghana, and we are looking forward to collaboration with the institution,” added Prof Twala.

The High Commissioner felt strongly about cementing the relationships that already exist between the UFS and universities in Ghana and will lobby for education to be included in the master framework used as an operational document between the two countries. Faculty exchanges between the UFS and Ghanaian universities were also encouraged by the High Commissioner.

The High Commissioner encouraged Ghanaian students and academics at the UFS to suggest ways to deepen the relationship between the UFS and Ghanaian institutions.

Dr Prince Sarpong, Senior Lecturer in the School for Financial Planning Law at the UFS, proposed a collaboration between the UFS and Ghanaian institutions in the field of financial planning, whereby there could be an opportunity to reach out and expand the practice of financial planning to institutions in Ghana. The High Commissioner was eager to know more about financial planning and its location within law.

Ghanaian students who attended the meeting shared their experiences and perspectives about the UFS and indicated that an excellent relationship exists with project supervisors while pursuing their studies remotely.

According to Ghanaian students based on the UFS campuses, the UFS is doing great work by engaging students from Ghana in the UFS programme. However, students indicated that challenges were experienced with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director of the Office for International Affairs at the UFS, assured students that the aspect of SAQA is important and will be looked into, as it relates to the recruitment of students.

The High Commissioner also suggested that the Ghana Accreditation Board engage with SAQA.

A UFS delegation will be visiting Ghana in October to explore the opportunities in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and the Business School.

News Archive

UFS academics present papers at major conference

2009-07-23

Pictured from the left are: Prof Neethling, Prof Edna van Harte (Dean of the Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University), Dr Thomas Mandrup (from the Royal Danish Defence College and co-organiser of the conference), and Prof Heidi Hudson.
Photo: Supplied

Prof Theo Neethling from the Department of Political Science was recently invited to address a conference on the theoretical basis for states’ use of military instruments of force and scholarly progress in the understanding of armed conflict in Africa held at Stellenbosch University (SU) on 11 and 12 June 2009. This conference, themed Strategic Theory and Contemporary Africa Conflicts, was presented by the Faculty of Military Science of SU in collaboration with the Faculty of Military and Strategic Studies of the Royal Danish Defence College in Copenhagen. The conference was premised on the point that the way in which states choose to become involved in, orchestrate or oppose armed conflicts in terms of peace intervention action, normally originates from theoretical thinking well-grounded in a national strategy. This was the first conference in South Africa that focused on the nature of such a national strategy, but also on how the incidence of recent armed conflicts in Africa could be explained in terms of this theoretical thinking. In view of this Prof Neethling’s paper was titled, “UN peacekeeping operations in Africa: Reflections on developments, trends and the way forward”. His paper focused on recent and current UN peacekeeping operations with special reference to multinational challenges in the African context.

Prof. Heidi Hudson from the Centre for African Studies also attended the conference in Stellenbosch on Strategic Theory and Contemporary Africa Conflicts. In addition she was invited to present a paper at the Peacekeeping Africa 2009 conference held on 24 and 25 June 2009 at Gallagher Estate, Midrand. The event brings together individuals who are experts in defence, peacekeeping, policing, foreign service and other government bodies to share knowledge and to discuss the latest developments. This year’s conference was attended by more than 100 experts from all over Africa, with strong representation from the UN and the International Red Cross. Prof. Hudson’s paper was entitled “Peacebuilding through a gender lens”. Her presentation examined lessons learnt with regard to implementation of a gender perspective in Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda. These case studies point towards an empirical link between women’s inclusion in peace processes and the quality of peace finally achieved. Prof. Hudson warned that inattention to the differential needs of both women and men during conflict and in the post-conflict reconstruction phase may perpetuate the violence discourses which sustained the conflict in the first place.

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