The Chief Executive Officer of Association of International Educators (NAFSA), Dr. Fanta Aw has urged Ghanaian institutions to collectively capitalize on the demographic dividend Africa possesses through strategic education collaboration.

According to the internationally acclaimed educationist who prides herself with championing innovation and transformation in the realm of higher education, university faculties, Deans, Vice Chancellors and administrators need to optimise their ultimate goal as teachers and educators of impacting the next generation of leaders, with a million responsibility on their shoulders.

She made this statement at a public lecture held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) dubbed, "Advancing International Education Exchange-Partnership Between African High Education Institutions (HEIs) and NAFSA: Association of International Educators," as part of her visit to the University on Monday, March 11, 2025.

Dr. Fanta Aw further reiterated universities to take advantage of the several opportunities at Africa's disposal like that of the mobility of students in the picking of exchange programmes.

Dr. Aw emphasized that over 624,00 African students are currently pursuing higher education abroad, which brings to fore a major increase compared to the previous data of 2010.

With Africa's fast rising student mobility due to shift in migration, policies and economic factors, she opined on the need for Ghanaian universities to figure out how to accelerate these bilateral exchange programmes and leverage opportunities through scholarship opportunities for the mobility of students.

Prof. Moses Jojo Eghan, Provost of the College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences (CANS) of UCC who chaired the occasion on behalf of the University's Vice Chancellor, on delightful takeaways from the public lecture, highlighted its focus on the opportunities and the challenges of advancing international education, mutual respect, equitability and partnership.

Coupled with the platform it provides for participants to learn, collaborate and discover solutions to enhance internationalisation in the University.  

Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan