Our History
Since our founding in 2002, Ashesi has established a reputation as a leader in undergraduate education in Africa, with an educational experience that fosters ethical leadership, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to solve complex problems.
Africa’s future is being shaped in its universities, where only 10% of sub-Saharan African youth are enrolled. These students are destined to become the continent’s next leaders, yet face educational systems plagued by overcrowding, underfunding, and a lack of practical training. Academic dishonesty is too common. How can Africa’s future leaders possibly learn to think and behave differently if we don’t educate them in a different way?
If we want different results, we must do something different. Ashesi was established in 2002 as an example of how innovation can bring out different and better outcomes. Starting with just 30 students, the University has grown significantly, well on its way to an enrollment of 2000. It challenges the norm with a multidisciplinary core curriculum, a student-led honor code, and a focus on ethical leadership. Ashesi’s model has also proven successful, with nearly all of its graduates quickly finding employment and a majority doing so in Africa. The University’s impact now extends beyond its graduates, influencing the broader educational landscape in Africa.
Here’s our journey.
“If there is anything you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
These words, attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, are the inspiration behind the university’s name, Ashesi, which means “beginning” in Fante (a Ghanaian language).
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2002
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2015
That same year, Ashesi President, Patrick Awuah, is named one of World’s 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine and also receives a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellowship in recognition of Ashesi's impact.
2016
2017
The Education Collaborative at Ashesi also launches in 2017 to serve as a platform for African universities to collaborate and work together, with a goal of strengthening student learning and outcomes, and sustainable access to quality education on the continent.
2018
Ashesi is awarded a Presidential Charter by the President of Ghana H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, making Ashesi a fully independent university. Ashesi becomes the youngest university in Ghana's history to receive a Charter at this time.
2019
The U7+ alliance, a pioneer group of universities from the G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US) invite Ashesi, University of Cape Town, and five other African universities to join them in a first of its kind partnership.
Also, in 2019, Ashesi Venture Incubator launches in partnership with MIT D-Lab and supported by USAID.
Twelve alumni are selected as inaugural fellows for the Incubator. The initiative will seek to provide funding, training, and mentorship for young entrepreneurs at Ashesi. The incubator will eventually be consolidated with other entrepreneurship programs into the Center for Entrepreneurship.
2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic forces schools to close, Ashesi transitions to operate fully online. Despite these challenges, Ashesi and ETH Zurich in Switzerland partner to launch a new joint Master's in Mechatronic Engineering. The ETH Foundation and industrial partners ABB, Barry Callebaut, Bühler, HPW, Holcim, and Nestlé also support this pioneering project through funding and scholarships. In addition, internships and career opportunities being offered at their African offices will equip graduates with the skills needed in emerging local labour markets.
Ashesi is ranked #1 in Ghana, #9 in Africa, and among the world's top 400 universities, in the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. The ranking is based on measurement of actions being taken by universities to help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
2021
The University experiments with a partial reopening for a small group of students in January of 2021, allowing those who are unable to continue studying at home to return. Campus reopens for all students in September this year, after nearly all members of the community had been vaccinated. To limit public gatherings and increase safety, classes continue to stay online until January 2022.