Ashesi University
{{short description|Private university in Ghana}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Ashesi University
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| image_name = Ashesi_University_Logo.png
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| established = {{start date and age|2002}}
| type = Private
| president = Patrick G. Awuah, Jr.
| provost = Angela Owusu Ansah
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| students = 1253 (January 2021){{cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/at-a-glance/quick-facts.html |website=ashesi.edu.gh |accessdate=20 January 2021}}
| doctoral =
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| city = Berekuso
| state = Eastern Region
| country = Ghana
| campus = Suburban
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| website = {{URL|www.ashesi.edu.gh}}
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| coordinates = {{coord|05|45|35|N|00|13|11|W|type:edu}}
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File:Ashesi's Archer Cornfield Courtyard.jpg
Ashesi University ({{IPAc-en|a:|ʃ|ˈ|s}} {{respell|a|shii|si'}}) is a private, non-profit and non-sectarian university located in Berekuso, near Accra.
Ashesi was established as an independent, public benefit education institution operating on a not-for-profit basis. The university obtained accreditation from the Ghanaian National Accreditation Board (now the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission) in September 2001 to operate under the mentorship of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), with degrees conferred by UCC. Ashesi began instruction on 4 March 2002. Ashesi University received a Presidential Charter from the President of Ghana, effective January 2018, making it an independent university that confers its own degrees.{{Cite web |title=Our Mission, Vision and History |url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/at-a-glance/mission-history.html |access-date=4 February 2024 |website=ashesi.edu.gh}} It is a member of the Council of Independent Universities,{{Cite web|title=Members|url=http://ciughana.com/members?limit_start=2|access-date=2021-05-18|website=ciughana.com}} the Association of African Universities{{Cite web|title=Our Members|url=https://www.aau.org/subs/membership/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518003051/https://www.aau.org/subs/membership/|archive-date=2020-05-18|access-date=2020-07-25|website=aau.org}} and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.{{Cite web|title=ACU members|url=https://www.acu.ac.uk/our-members/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629150405/https://www.acu.ac.uk/our-members/|archive-date=2020-06-29|access-date=2020-05-12|website=acu.ac.uk}}
History
=Feasibility study=
A team of four MBA students from the University of California Berkeley's Haas School of Business travelled to Ghana to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a new university in 1998. The team administered over 3,300 surveys to students and parents; conducted interviews and focus groups with parents, teachers and business leaders; and gathered secondary information from local and international sources. The study concluded there was significant demand for a new private university in Ghana, that Ghanaian parents were willing to pay for high-quality local university education, and that the Ghanaian government supported private involvement in tertiary education.{{Cite web |date=16 January 2004 |title=Early years feasibility study |url=http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/NEWS/BULLETIN/EARLIEST_YEARS/FEASIBILITY_STUDY/feasibility_study.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106021317/http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/NEWS/BULLETIN/EARLIEST_YEARS/FEASIBILITY_STUDY/feasibility_study.html |archive-date=6 January 2011 |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=ashesi.edu.gh.}}
=Foundation and accreditation=
The Ashesi University Foundation was founded in 1999. Its name transcribed in Akan as " Ahyɛase" means "beginning"{{Cite web |date=7 July 2002 |title=History: Meaning of Ashesi |url=http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/history.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117100304/http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/history.html#Meaning_of_Ashesi |archive-date=17 November 2011 |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=ashesi.edu.gh.}} The university was granted accreditation by the National Accreditation Board of Ghana in 2001 under the mentorship of the University of Cape Coast and began classes in 2002. Ashesi students elected the first female university student government president in Ghana's history in 2006 and its first Examination Honour Code in 2008.{{cite web |title=Our Mission, Vision and History |url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/at-a-glance/mission-history.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111201805/https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/at-a-glance/mission-history.html |archive-date=2020-01-11 |accessdate=20 February 2019 |website=ashesi.edu.gh |publisher=Ashesi University}} Ashesi University completed a new campus in Berekuso in 2011. In 2015, Ashesi launched its engineering programme,{{Cite web|title=History – Ashesi University Foundation|url=https://www.ashesi.org/about/history/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711132424/https://www.ashesi.org/about/history/|archive-date=2020-07-11|access-date=2020-07-25|language=en-US}} and its founder, Patrick Awuah, became a MacArthur fellow.{{Cite news|date=2015-10-15|title=Ghana's first-ever liberal arts college opens the door for more in Africa|work=Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2015/1015/Ghana-s-first-ever-liberal-arts-college-opens-the-door-for-more-in-Africa|access-date=2020-07-25|issn=0882-7729}} In 2018, it received a charter from the president of Ghana, allowing it to grant degrees in its own name instead of that of the University of Cape Coast.{{Cite web|date=2018-05-03|title=Akufo-Addo grants Ashesi University Presidential Charter|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/akufo-addo-grants-ashesi-university-presidential-charter/|access-date=2020-09-26|website=MyJoyOnline.com|language=en-US}}
Campus
File:Ashesi_Todd_&_Ruth_Warren_Library.jpg
Ashesi University's 100-acre campus contains the [https://ashesi.edu.gh/health-and-wellbeing/ Natembea Health Centre], two sports courts and a sports centre with a football field, running track and gym.{{Cite web|title=Our Campus|url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/campus-tour.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401002603/https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/campus-tour.html|archive-date=2020-04-01|access-date=2020-07-26|website=ashesi.edu.gh}}{{Cite web|last=University|first=Ashesi|date=2019-03-28|title=History and euphoria as Ashesi opens new sports centre|url=https://at.ashesi.edu.gh/history-and-euphoria-as-ashesi-opens-new-sports-centre-dfbba45ec000|access-date=2020-07-26|website=Medium|language=en}} It also hosts the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre.{{Cite web|title=Climate Innovation Center Launched to Support Ghana's Green Economy|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/05/17/climate-innovation-center-launched-to-support-ghanas-green-economy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418033546/https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/05/17/climate-innovation-center-launched-to-support-ghanas-green-economy|archive-date=2018-04-18|access-date=2020-07-26|website=World Bank|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=About {{!}} GCIC|url=https://www.ghanacic.org/about/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120211059/https://www.ghanacic.org/about/|archive-date=2020-01-20|access-date=2020-07-26|language=en-US}}
The architecture borrows from the Ghanaian vernacular, with echoes of traditional compound houses, as well as elements of traditional Northern dwellings. The natural contours of the site are used in concert with buildings to create exterior gathering spaces throughout campus, as well as ramps that provide wheelchair access to buildings. Buildings are designed to maximize natural views, light and ventilation. Groundwater is supplemented with harvested rainwater, filtered and treated to provide potable water all year round. A community-scale sewage and organic treatment plant provides environmental and economic benefits by converting waste to biogas for some of the campus' cooking needs and recycling treated water for landscaping.{{Cite web|title=Ashesi University|url=https://www.admissionsgh.com/ashesi-university/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708061350/https://www.admissionsgh.com/ashesi-university/|archive-date=2017-07-08|access-date=2020-07-26|website=AdmissionsGh|language=en-US}} The university meets 40% of its daytime electrical needs with solar power.
Organisation and governance
Ashesi University has 88 teaching staff and more than 150 administrative staff{{Cite web |title=Quick Facts |url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/at-a-glance/quick-facts.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=www.ashesi.edu.gh}} organised into the departments of Humanities and Social Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science and Information Systems, and Engineering.{{Cite web|title=Academic Departments|url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/academics/programmes.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401000816/https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/academics/programmes.html|archive-date=2020-04-01|access-date=2020-07-26|website=ashesi.edu.gh}} The Ashesi University Foundation,{{Cite web|title=Ashesi University College – Governance|url=http://archives.ashesi.edu.gh/V2_2002_2004/ABOUT/govern.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404040659/http://archives.ashesi.edu.gh/V2_2002_2004/ABOUT/govern.html|archive-date=2019-04-04|access-date=2020-07-26|website=archives.ashesi.edu.gh}} which raises funding to support the mission of the university, is a United States 501(c)(3) organization.{{Cite web|title=Governance – Ashesi University|url=http://v6.ashesi.edu.gh/about/ashesi-s-leadership/governance.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231221518/http://v6.ashesi.edu.gh/about/ashesi-s-leadership/governance.html|archive-date=2019-12-31|access-date=2020-07-26|website=v6.ashesi.edu.gh}} The foundation is overseen by its board of trustees, while the university is overseen by its board of directors.{{Cite web|title=Board of Directors (College) – Ashesi University|url=http://v6.ashesi.edu.gh/about/ashesi-s-leadership/board-of-directors-ghana.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231221508/http://v6.ashesi.edu.gh/about/ashesi-s-leadership/board-of-directors-ghana.html|archive-date=2019-12-31|access-date=2020-07-26|website=v6.ashesi.edu.gh}}
Academics and recognition
Ashesi offers a four-year bachelor program grounded in a multidisciplinary core curriculum, featuring majors in business administration, management information systems, computer science, electrical and electronic engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering and LLB in law with public policy It runs Ashesi Innovation Experience, a two-week program which exposes students between the ages of 15 and 19 to Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Robotics, Creativity and Engineering basics to help prepare them for transitioning into college,{{Cite web|title=Ashesi Innovation Experience (AIX)|url=http://v6.ashesi.edu.gh/about/outreach-programmes/aix.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231221548/http://v6.ashesi.edu.gh/about/outreach-programmes/aix.html|archive-date=2019-12-31|access-date=2018-06-22|website=ashesi.edu.gh}} and oversees the curriculum development for the Next Generation Cocoa Youth Programme.{{Cite web|title=The Next Generation Cocoa Youth Program (MASO)|url=https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/academics/programmes/business-administration/ba-research-list/3217-maso.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726040203/https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/academics/programmes/business-administration/ba-research-list/3217-maso.html|archive-date=2020-07-26|access-date=2020-07-26|website=ashesi.edu.gh}}
In 2012, the university was ranked by PwC as the seventh most respected organisation in Ghana, becoming the first university to make the list. Ashesi's president, Patrick Awuah, was also ranked the 4th Most Respected CEO in Ghana.{{Cite web |date=22 October 2012 |title=UT Bank, Rlg bosses outshine rivals –at Ghana's Most Respected CEO awards |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/425396/ut-bank-rlg-bosses-outshine-rivals-8211at-ghanas-most.html |access-date=4 February 2024 |website=Modern Ghana}}{{Cite web |date=22 October 2012 |title=Prince Amoabeng is Ghana's Most Respected CEO again |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Prince-Amoabeng-is-Ghana-s-Most-Respected-CEO-again-253921 |access-date=4 February 2024 |website=Ghana Web}} It was ranked as one of Ghana's 50 Best Places to work by Ghanaian consulting firm Goodman AMC in 2015; it was again the only university on the list.{{Cite web|date=2015-06-26|title=Goodman AMC: Top 50 Best Places To Work in Ghana|url=https://goodmanamc.blogspot.com/2015/03/top-50-best-places-to-work-in-ghana.html|access-date=2020-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626152838/https://goodmanamc.blogspot.com/2015/03/top-50-best-places-to-work-in-ghana.html|archive-date=26 June 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Peace FM |title=Despite Group Among 50 Best Places To Work In Ghana |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/social/201508/249891.php |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news}} Also in that year, Ashesi's president was ranked by Fortune as one of the World's 50 Greatest Leaders.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-26|title=Patrick Awuah {{!}} Fortune|url=https://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/2015/patrick-awuah/|access-date=2020-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726041638/https://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/2015/patrick-awuah/|archive-date=26 July 2020}} In 2017, Ashesi was awarded the World Innovation Summit in Education Prize, one of the world's biggest prizes in education, for its impact on higher education in Africa.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-18|title=Interview with Patrick Awuah {{!}} THE People|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/people/interview-patrick-awuah|access-date=2020-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118011423/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/people/interview-patrick-awuah|archive-date=18 January 2018}} In 2020, Ashesi University ranked first in Ghana, ninth in Africa, and in the world's top 400 in the Global Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-28|title=Ashesi ranked 1st in Ghana, 9th in Africa in 2020 Times Higher Education Impact Ranking|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/education/ashesi-ranked-1st-in-ghana-9th-in-africa-in-2020-times-higher-education-impact-ranking/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428231303/https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/education/ashesi-ranked-1st-in-ghana-9th-in-africa-in-2020-times-higher-education-impact-ranking/|archive-date=2020-04-28|access-date=2020-04-29|website=MyJoyOnline.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2020/overall|title=Impact Ranking|date=2020-03-04|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29}}
In 2024, Ashesi launched an LLB in law with public policy program after receiving approval from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the Ghana General Legal Council (GLC). {{Cite web |last=Communications |first=University |date=2024-10-23 |title=Ashesi Launches Bachelor Program Focused on Law, Governance, and Public Policy |url=https://ashesi.edu.gh/ashesi-announces-law-program/#:~:text=Ashesi%20Launches%20Bachelor%20Program%20Focused%20on%20Law,%20Governance,%20and%20Public%20Policy,-October%2023,%202024&text=Ashesi%20has%20received%20approval%20from,Public%20Policy%20(LLB)%20program. |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Ashesi University |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- [http://www.modernghana.com/news/83700/1/ashesi-university-re-accredited-for-five-years.html Ghana News Agency (Ghana): "Ashesi University Re-Accredited"], 10 August 2005.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100804075131/http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/NEWS/NEWS/2009_NEWS/2009_Jul_news.html#Goundbreaking "Ashesi breaks ground on new campus"], August 2009.
- [http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/news-and-events/1239-ashesi-celebrates-historic-milestone-with-inauguration-for-its-new-campus-.html "Ashesi celebrates historic milestone with inauguration of its new campus"], August 2011.
- Awuah, Patrick. 2019. "Courage is the cornerstone of progress". In Practicing development: Upending assumptions for positive change, edited by Susan H Holcombe and Marion Howard. Kumarian Press, Boulder.
External links
- [http://www.ashesi.edu.gh/ Ashesi University]
- [https://www.ted.com/talks/patrick_awuah_how_to_educate_leaders_liberal_arts Patrick Awuah on educating leaders | Video on TED.com]
{{coord|05|45|35|N|00|13|11|W|type:edu|display=title}}
{{Ghana universities}}
{{Association of African Universities}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Universities and colleges established in 2002
Category:2002 establishments in Ghana
Category:Liberal arts colleges
Category:Private universities and colleges in Africa