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News from 2009
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Ashesi joins international partners to host research workshops across Africa
June
, 2009

Ashesi University is one of three universities in Africa selected to organize and host workshops to train junior faculty in rigorous qualitative research methods. The “Network of Excellence for Qualitative Research Methods; Sub-Saharan Africa” project is supported by the EDULINK programme (funded by the European Union and managed by the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States). The nearly half-a-million Euro (€) project, initiated by the Institute of Development Studies (University of Sussex, UK) will be hosted by three main hub institutions in Africa - Ashesi University College (Ghana), University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa).  The program in Ghana will be facilitated by Ashesi faculty members Dr. Esi Ansah and Gideon Porbley.

The project’s aim is to enhance the independent capacity of Sub-Saharan Africa’s institutions of higher education to conduct rigorous and innovative qualitative and multi-method social science research. Special attention will be given to interdisciplinary approaches to governance-related research. It will also provide a new generation of African scholars with access to cutting edge and innovative research design strategies, break the relative international isolation often felt by African scholars, and also to establish a training and research network that will stimulate and sustain the uptake of these methods by African institutions of higher education. Planning is underway for the half-a-million Euro project, and the training workshops are scheduled to begin in August 2009, and end by June 2011.

Working together with partners in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Tanzania, South Africa, the United States and Germany, the project will combine ‘in-residence’ workshops, on-line learning through a Virtual Research Unit, and a short fieldwork component. 

Applications are being accepted from junior faculty across West Africa for participation in the workshop.

Detailed information on the project is available on the project website – www.qrmafrica.org.

Ashesi's Class of 2009 graduates
May
, 2009

On Saturday, May 30, 2009, Ashesi University College graduated its fifth class, the Class of 2009.  Fifty four members of the Class of 2009 were presented with degrees in Computer Science, Management Information Systems and Business Administration.  Members of the Class of 2009 have participated in internships at many of Ghana’s top companies and have volunteered at over 15 non-profit organizations throughout their time at Ashesi.  Even before graduation day already close to 70% of the class had received job offers.

The program opened with a dance performance by Ashesi students and the Noyam Dance Company.  The dance, a combination of traditional African and modern dance styles introduced a festive mood to the celebrations.  The dance was followed by a reading by Dean of Academic Affairs, Prof. Nana Apt of a poem written by Ashesi student Bolaji Buremoh entitled "Keep Dreaming".

2009 Class Speaker Patience Bediako lauded her classmates for their many achievements both in the classroom and the community.  In an address to the graduates, Ashesi's President Patrick Awuah reminded the class of the importance of ethics and moral conduct in the lives of great leaders.  He challenged the class to try to do the right thing, even when challenged by social pressure, in order to create positive change. 

Guest speaker Ms. Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines spoke about looking at models of success from nature.  She spoke about the intelligence, strength and persistence of ants, which has resulted in their successful spread across the globe.

Three students Benjamin Cudjoe, Monika Mould and Godson Quaye received awards for committing themselves to Ashesi's core values of scholarship, leadership and citizenship throughout their time as students.  Two students, Rose Dodd and Monica-Maria Beecham received the Mr. & Mrs. Torvinyo and IC Securities Award as the top students in Finance. 

Class of 2009 Fundraising dinner                                                                     May, 2009

As the date of their impending graduation approached, the Class of 2009 hosted a dinner at African Regent Hotel to raise funds for their class gift. The dinner was attended by faculty and staff in addition to members of the class. Ashesi’s President, Dr. Patrick Awuah, took the opportunity to inform the gathered crowd of the details of Ashesi’s new campus, currently under construction at Berekuso. Dr. Awuah also presented the class with a unique chance to be a part of Ashesi history by naming one of the buildings of the new campus.

The evening was filled with entertainment and spiced with the highlights of four years of nostalgia. The masters of ceremony, Benjamin Cudjoe and Okyeame Sarfo Manu, regaled the audience with jokes and anecdotes that left the crowd in stitches and during dinner, members of the class were given opportunities to share memories they had of their colleagues. The evening ended with an opening dance by the President and his wife. The members of staff and faculty present soon joined in. The Class of 2009 had a delightful time swaying to the evening’s sounds until midnight, when the memorable evening came to a fitting close.

Ashesi students selected for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative
May
, 2009

A research report released by Goldman Sachs entitled “Women Hold Up Half the Sky” has revealed that educating women is critical to the success of emerging economies. Acting upon the report’s recommendations, Goldman Sachs has launched the 10,000 Women initiative, for which three female Ashesi students have been selected.

The lucky students are Ms. Monica Maria Beecham, Ms. Christina Doe and Ms. Nana Achiaa Mansah Awuah-Frimpong, all final year Business Administration students. According to Nana Achiah Awuah-Frimpong, “this opportunity is the very challenge I’ve been looking for. I am pretty excited!”

The Ashesi students were selected from a large applicant pool, after completing an application and interview process. Marianne Potterton of Opportunity International, who assisted in the selection process in Ghana stated, “I am thrilled your students did so well in the process! I look forward to more of the same from Ashesi women in the next round of recruiting."

The selected students will participate in business management training, a mentoring program and networking opportunities. Goldman Sachs employees will be engaged in the initiative by training selected participants and offering technical assistance. In Ghana, the program is being handled by Opportunity International, an international development bank. Opportunity International will provide employment opportunities to students and will offer employees to mentor programme participants.

Goldman Sachs developed the 10,000 Women initiative to help develop people who have the potential to cause change. As Loyd Blankfein, the C.E.O. explains “Those of us who champion open markets must also do our part to create more opportunity to ensure economic growth is more broadly shared”. The program has partnered with universities and business schools and will ensure that participants are equipped with the tools they need to make lasting impacts in their countries of origin. The aim of the programme is to train 10,000 women across the world to enable them actively participate in their country’s economies.
 

Leading Ladies Seminar held at Ashesi University                                                              May, 2009

Women of Ashesi in conjunction with Women of Virtue and Ashesi Business Club held the first “Leading Ladies Seminar” on the campus of Ashesi University College from the 22nd to the 24th of April 2009. Participants included Ashesi students a few others from some other Ghanaian universities.

The event sought to provide university-level women an opportunity to interact and discuss issues that pertain to women in the world today. Activities included team building exercises, a discussion on world economic issues and a celebration of some of Ashesi’s outstanding women.

The highlight of the event was the formal launch of the Women of Ashesi campus organization. Yawa Hansen-Quao, past President of Women of Ashesi & past Vice President of Women of Virtue launched the group with Mrs. Rebecca Awuah, a Mathematics instructor at Ashesi University.

The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, invests in Ashesi University
April
, 2009

 

 

The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is investing $2.5 million in Ashesi University College. This investment by the IFC validates Ashesi's mission and financial performance, and sets the university on the path to growth. The loan will enable Ashesi to construct a permanent campus in Berekuso, a village approximately 15 miles north of Ghana's capital city of Accra.  The first phase of construction will enable Ashesi to double its enrollment to 800 students. Click here for a full press release.

The Great Debaters: Ashesi-Regent Style
April
, 2009

After successfully hammering Ashesi in basketball, Regent University had hopes of repeating its triumph in the debate arena. Each university assembled a team to argue on the motion of whether or not universities should implement dress codes for their students. There were three speakers on both sides, each one being granted only a few minutes to establish their argument. Ashesi – represented by Kwabena Owusu-Adjei, with Albert Asiamah and Steven Odarteifio as his supporting speakers – was against the motion whilst Regent was for it. The judges were Mrs. Ronke Nedd from Ashesi and Mr. Samuel Bartels, a radio presenter and a lecturer from Regent University. By the end of the evening, a clear winner had emerged: by the judges’ scorecards, Ashesi had trounced their rivals, 80 points to 60 points, and won back some of their dignity, at least for the moment.

Ashesi Student Council organizes yet another sporting event
April
, 2009

Recently, the executives of the Ashesi Student Representative Council have been making great strides to inject more vigour and excitement into Ashesi campus life and also to use sports as a meaningful way to bring students together. The recently held table tennis competition was one such event. The occasion drew an assorted crowd of both male and female students and, after a rather heated matchup, Kwame Ofosuhene walked away the winner with Ebenezer Buckman and Nasiru Braimah as runners up.

 


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