https://youtu.be/xuxFeJqgevI
2022 was a significant year for Ashesi. Over the past twelve months we established the guiding framework for our next decade, deepened research and innovation, and doubled down on the experiences that have shaped the university community. The year marked our 20th anniversary and also saw a full return to campus after two years of virtual learning. Here is a look at some of the stories we will remember from 2022. Share yours with us online using the hashtags #2022atAshesi and #atAshesi. 

Ashesi’s community marks two decades of impact
In March, our community celebrated 20 years since Ashesi’s first class in 2002. A community lunch in the Archer Cornfield Courtyard saw us have our first university-wide gathering since 2020. We kicked off various events at Ashesi to mark our return to campus and our two-decade journey.

Ashesi’s growth into a leading African university over the past two decades has impacted higher education across the continent in multiple ways. From a pioneer class of 30, we now have over 3,000 students and alumni. And over the past five years, we have helped transform learning outcomes for 149,000 students thanks to an inspired network of African higher education partners. 

As an additional nod to Ashesi’s impact on Africa and in higher education, the University was ranked as one of Africa’s most impactful on the 2022 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings – among the continent’s top ten and first in Ghana based on contributions toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Highlights

• Ashesi ranked among Africa’s best on Times Higher Education Impact Ranking.
• At milestone Commencement for African Development University, Patrick Awuah receives National Honour from President of Niger for contributions to higher education in country.
• Mastercard Foundation CEO reflects on the impact of Ashesi community.
• World Bank partners with Ashesi’s Climate Innovation Centre to Launch Ghana Country Climate and Development Report. 
• Education Collaborative makes strides as partnerships grow in East Africa, and Francophone Africa.
• Watch: Ashesi celebrates 20 Years.
• Ghana will remain grateful to Ashesi, says Minister for Education.

Ashesi continues to reach more as classes grow
In 2022, we officially welcomed two new undergraduate classes to Ashesi – the Class of 2025 at the start of the year and the Class of 2026 at the end. The classes collectively make up a little over 700 students, bringing our total student population to approximately 1,400. The Class of 2026 begins its first formal semester in January 2023 as Ashesi’s largest, at 370 students. 

We also welcomed the pioneering class of postgraduate students at Ashesi – the first cohort of our joint Masters in Mechatronic Engineering with ETH Zurich. The Ashesi – ETH Zurich joint Master’s Programme in Mechatronic Engineering, formally announced in October 2020, combines the strength of mission, teaching, and innovation across our two universities. It will enable students to access a high-quality Engineering master’s education in Africa, with faculty from Switzerland joining colleagues in Ghana to co-teach at Ashesi’s campus.

Commencement 2022 was yet another reminder of the strength of our community, as a rainstorm forced an adjustment of plans the evening prior. It was one of our best events this year, as friends and family gathered to celebrate the graduands and listened to strong messages from speakers. The Class brings our alumni community to a little over 2,100.

“To this day, it remains hard to tell if having to spend some time learning online was a good thing,” read Class Speaker Ndze’dzenyuy Lemfon Karl ’22. “What we do know, however, is that more than anything we experienced in the past four years, nothing brought to life our endurance, resilience, boldness, and sense of community as this halftime period of online learning. […] Even the basest of despair did not extinguish your little candle of hope. You have been resilient and supportive of one another, and you have been your finest. […] Whatever is coming tomorrow will meet us, like always, at our finest.”

Highlights

• Master’s programme in Mechatronic Engineering welcomes pioneer class.
• Ashesi welcomes undergraduate Class of 2025.
• Recap: celebrating Ashesi’s Class of 2022.
• Commencement Guest Speaker, Sir Sam Jonah, asks Class of 2022: “If not you, then who?”
• Class of 2012 marks its graduation decennial with a class gift to support scholarships at Ashesi.
• Commencement 2022 President’s Award Recipients reflect the best of Ashesi students.
• “Our mission remains more urgent than ever”, says Patrick Awuah to Class of 2022.

Faculty deepen work in innovation and research 
Led by the Office of Academic Affairs, research efforts across the Ashesi community saw a significant boost. Faculty raised funding to drive research projects in Computer Science, Business and Entrepreneurship, Engineering, and the Humanities. Faculty mentorship also saw many students take on ambitious projects, research and problem-solving competitions, several earning global recognition. 

Ashesi also signed on to several new collaborative efforts to boost research and innovation, including with the University of Toronto, the Mastercard Foundation, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and the French Embassy in Ghana.

Highlights

• Grant award to enable Ashesi faculty member to build learning platform for women in entrepreneurship.
• Reach Alliance partnership brings new opportunities for student-driven research.
• Engineering senior prototypes device to help asthmatic children be healthier.
• Automated pet feeder prototype named among strongest senior-year projects at Ashesi’s 2022 Commencement.
• An observation about campus solar panels leads Engineering senior to build panel cleaning machine.
• Ashesi-Impact Investing Ghana report provides insights for financing small and medium enterprises.
• Ashesi student research team earns silver medal at synthetic biology competition in Paris.

Beyond the Horizon: Previewing the Strategic Plan for Ashesi’s Third Decade
Our third-decade plan, previewed publicly for the first time at our 20th anniversary, leans on lessons from our last two decades and accelerates our impact in Africa. Centred around six key predictions for Africa’s future, the plan focuses on the skills leaders will require to harness the continent’s economic and social potential. 

Additionally, the plan will see Ashesi deepen its financial resilience, embrace thoughtful goals around diversity and access, and boost research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Through the Education Collaborative, Ashesi will also work with peers and colleague institutions to transform learning outcomes for a million students across Africa. We are entering our third decade with strong partnerships that give us momentum, with a global community including the Mastercard Foundation, Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropies, Cartier Philanthropy, and Global Affairs Canada, helping enable critical aspects of work into the future.

Thank you for journeying with us through an unforgettable 2022, and we look forward to kicking off our third decade in 2023.

Highlights

• Beyond the horizon: the strategic plan for Ashesi’s third decade.
• Announcing a new endowment from Mastercard Foundation to Ashesi University Foundation Canada.
• Reeta Roy and Patrick Awuah reflect on lessons from a decade of impact.
• The Coca-Cola Foundation awards grant to Ashesi for student-centered service programmes.
• President of Ghana cuts sod for construction of major road which also provides access to Ashesi.