Dear members of the Ashesi Community,
I hope you are all keeping well, as we also start a new academic year on campus. I am writing to share important updates covering a new commitment to transfer Mastercard Foundation Scholars from African Development Universalis, Niger, to Ashesi University; a plan to return to a regular academic year for the classes of 2024 through 2027; and a status update on our strategic plan.
Transferring students from African Development Universalis (ADU) to Ashesi University
In response to the gravity of audit findings following allegations of leadership malpractices at ADU, the Mastercard Foundation has terminated its Scholars Program at ADU. However, in keeping with its commitment to the welfare and well-being of students, and in consultation with Ashesi University, the Mastercard Foundation is expanding its partnership with us to enable Scholars at ADU to transfer to Ashesi. We are honoured to accept these students into our community, and we look forward to enrolling and integrating them into student life and academic work here this semester.
Returning to a regular academic schedule
Because of disruptions to the high school certificate exam caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Classes of 2024-2026 have been on a schedule that formally starts in January of their entering year, with expected graduation in December of their graduating year. The West African Examination Council has announced that it will return to its regular exam schedule next year. As a result, we will welcome the Class of 2027 in January 2024 and admit the Class of 2028 in September 2024.
To avoid a situation where we will simultaneously have five different classes on campus in September-December of 2024 through 2027, we will take steps to return the Classes of 2024-2027 to a regular schedule. Specifically, we will run a June-August semester in 2024 for the Classes of 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. With this change, the Class of 2024 will graduate in August 2024, not December 2024 as previously scheduled. The Classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 will have June graduation dates.
I recognise that this will require significant effort from all of us in 2024, similar to the extraordinary work we undertook in March 2020 when we abruptly switched to remote teaching and learning. The effort we make next year will bring our institution back to a normal schedule and close the chapter on Covid-19 disruptions. Department heads are fine-tuning their plans and will communicate details to relevant stakeholders in the coming weeks.
Beyond the Horizon - Progress on Ashesi's Third Decade Strategic Plan
In October, we will be marking the first year since the University and Foundation Boards approved our third-decade strategic plan. Beyond the Horizon is an exciting new plan for Ashesi University, and we are making steady progress in what promises to be a consequential decade for our institution and its mission. Here are a few highlights:
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We have raised endowment funds for 600 students to be on full scholarships at any time at Ashesi, and are working to raise more in the coming years.
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We have received accreditation for two new bachelor’s degree programs --BSc Economics, and BSc Mechatronic Engineering-- and will begin admitting students to these programs in 2024.
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We have begun construction on two new buildings: a multipurpose academic building, and a student residence hall. The multipurpose building will be completed by the end of October 2023.
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The Education Collaborative, our initiative to foster collaborations that strengthen African higher education, continues to make good progress. 400 African universities have so far participated in Education Collaborative programs.
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Furthermore, working with four independent organisations, we have advocated for and supported the development of a new Sub Saharan Africa University ranking, the first edition of which was published in June 2023. We hope that this new ranking will evolve over time to highlight critical metrics that African Universities should strive to excel in, and that will lead to development on our continent.
We are doing a lot more to execute our strategic plan. In the coming months, you will recognise our work to integrate climate change across our curriculum; more postgraduate academic programs; and an increasing intensity of our work in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Our campus infrastructure will also double over the next four years.
With greater resources come greater responsibility
Ashesi's emergence as one of Africa's bright lights in higher education is the result of consistent, dedicated effort by members of our community, past and present. We must be grateful to each other and our global community of friends, donors, and partners for what is nothing short of exemplary progress. Ashesi's growth has never been about us, but rather about the success and growth of Africa.
No doubt, as more resources are being rallied to support our cause to educate ethical, entrepreneurial leaders, we must individually dedicate ourselves to adding to Ashesi’s excellence. But more importantly, we must look beyond ourselves and traverse barriers so that we can contribute more strongly to development on the continent.
Whether reaching out to welcome students from ADU to our community or partnering with colleagues in other institutions to deliver new solutions for people who need them most, we must recognize our responsibility towards Africa and the world. Above all, we must act with courage.
I look forward to the academic year and continuing conversations with you all.
Sincerely,
Patrick