Day 4: Learning About Higher Education From the Perspective Of a Private School in Ghana

Thoughts from Hannah:

Hearing from students at Ashesi University about their classes and daily life at their school was really informative. It was inspirational to know how passionate and effective their student government and administration were in listening to students' wants and needs and implementing policies and changes to make them a reality! The campus was beautiful and the environment and vibes of the campus and the people we met were welcoming, respectful, and peaceful. One of my biggest takeaways from the conversation was that being intentional with your choices and actions and paying attention to people's lived experiences instead of elites is necessary to create sustainable change in the structure and moral standards of higher education. Overall, being able to have an open and honest forum about students' interests, passions, and studies from a non-Western lens I think is extremely valid and necessary. It was also really cool when we got to make a quick, unplanned detour at a resort and see their petting zoo and ostrich farm :)

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What did we do today?

We received an incredibly gracious tour of Ashesi University today and were able to discuss the differences between this private institution and American University. According to the Assistant Director of the Office of Diversity and International Programs, "Ashesi" translates to "beginnings" with their emblem being an Adinkra symbol supporting one of their missions to have graduates be educated, ethical, and entrepreneurial leaders of the future. We learned that the four pillars of the school are entrepreneurship, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship; every student signs on to an "Honor Code System" promising to not cheat, lie or steal and fosters a community of accountability, ethics, and trust. On the tour, we were broken up into smaller groups, and the students explained how literally everywhere on campus was accessible by ramp and elevator. We also learned that the campus is extremely sustainable/eco-friendly -- Built on a mountain, one student explained how the stone and natural resources/plants from the mountain the campus was built on, were put back into the construction of the buildings on the campus.

Photo Credit: Hannah

During the dialogue before the tour, four students from Ashesi and ourselves were able to ask and answer questions. Topics brought up included admissions standards at Ashesi (very competitive!), core classes (all students at Ashesi must enroll in a management, entrepreneur, and leadership track), and the different values/goals of the universities (when considering/interviewing applicants, admissions looks for those with a passion and commitment to an African Renaissance agenda and leadership in their respective communities, as explained by the Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid). The President and all of the professors at Ashesi have an open-door policy and are extremely receptive and accessible to the community as a whole.

Photo Credit: Dr. Ernest

Photo Credit: Johneé

Ashesi's campus was absolutely BEAUTIFUL with stunning views of Accra, comfortable student hangout spots, and a nice cafeteria where we ended the tour!

Photo Credit: Hannah

Photo Credit: Our wonderful tour guide and Ashesi senior, Adwoa!

On the drive to Ashesi, we also made a quick and unplanned stop at the Peduase Valley Resort. At the resort, we were able to see their petting zoo and ostrich farm. Adorable and fun!

Photo Credit: Hannah

Be on the lookout for tomorrow's post!