UHAS Marks 2025 International Day, Advocates Equity and Global Partnerships

According to ghana news agency:ccording to Ghana News Agency, held at the university's main campus in Ho, the event brought together scholars, students, international partners, and dignitaries to reflect on the role of global collaboration and inclusivity in advancing higher education, particularly in the Global South. Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Florent Rutagarama, Dean of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Rwanda, highlighted the importance of sustainable international academic partnerships for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and development. He noted that despite their potential, such partnerships often face systemic obstacles. Prof. Rutagarama outlined practical strategies for overcoming these challenges, including innovative funding models such as public-private partnerships and community-led crowdfunding, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and cross-cultural training programs to build trust and understanding. He also emphasised that universities in the Global South grapple with additional hurdles such as political instability, insufficient funding, and cultural differences that can jeopardise well-intentioned collaborations if left unaddressed. Underscoring the importance of cultural competence, he recommended language support programs, cultural awareness training, and participatory communication frameworks to enhance collaboration. Ms. Ernestina Adu, representing the Ghanaian European Centre for Jobs, Migration, and Development, reiterated the need for equitable access to global academic platforms. She commended UHAS for its proactive internationalisation efforts and highlighted the Centre's support for scholarships, such as Erasmus+, and exchange opportunities for students, healthcare workers, and professionals. In her address, Prof. Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor of UHAS, affirmed the university's dedication to international collaboration and acknowledged the vital role of global partnerships in its development. Prof. Aziato disclosed that UHAS currently maintains 7 7 institutional partnerships, while calling on inactive collaborators to renew their engagement. She also drew attention to the university's underutilised state-of-the-art Simulation Centre, appealing for support to fully operationalise it in line with global standards. Identifying emerging areas such as machine learning, disease modelling, robotics, and health technology, she expressed UHAS's commitment to forming new partnerships that will drive innovation and improve health outcomes. The Vice Chancellor also pointed to UHAS's strategic location near Togo and Benin as an asset for regional integration, announcing plans to introduce French and English proficiency programs to attract Francophone students. The International Day celebration is a flagship event at UHAS, dedicated to recognising the contributions of its international community and promoting a culture of global inclusion.