In a move to deepen intra-African academic cooperation, GCTU and the Institut des Sciences Politiques, Relations Internationales et Communication (ISPRIC) of Mali have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 17th June 2025 at the Vice-Chancellor’s Boardroom.
The historic agreement, formalized during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, aimed at fostering collaboration in the areas of student and staff exchange, research and joint academic programmes.
The Malian delegation, led by the Head of International Cooperation at ISPRIC, Madam Aminata Diawara and Mr. Aboubacar Sidiki Ballo, was warmly received by GCTU leadership, faculty and staff.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized the importance of South-South academic partnerships, particularly within the West African subregion. “We see this as a very important collaboration because over the years we’ve had a number of international or North-South collaborations, where we deal with institutions in Europe, America and other continents. But we’ve tried as much as possible to have African partners as well so that we can build a new generation of technology experts within the West African sub-region,” he stated.
Prof. Afoakwa also provided a historical overview of GCTU, highlighting the institution’s evolution from Ghana Technology University College to a fully-fledged public university, now empowered to award its degrees from the diploma to the PhD level.
In response, Madam Aminata Diawara expressed ISPRIC’s delight at forging a relationship with GCTU. She delivered an extensive presentation on ISPRIC’s institutional profile, showcasing their robust academic programmes in political science, international relations, communication and a growing portfolio in engineering and technology. She emphasized ISPRIC’s commitment to fostering African academic integration, noting, “We have partners across Europe and Asia, but we believe now is the time to strengthen our ties within Africa.”
Earlier in the day, the delegation from Mali engaged with GCTU faculty members in detailed discussions on potential areas of collaboration. These include joint research, dual-degree programmes, student mobility, faculty exchange and the establishment of an English Learning Centre in Mali under GCTU’s mentorship. ISPRIC also expressed strong interest in partnering with GCTU in establishing a Polytechnic School to train students, particularly in engineering disciplines such as mechatronics, software engineering, and telecommunications.
A highlight of the ceremony was the symbolic exchange of gifts between the two institutions – a gesture of goodwill, mutual respect and shared aspirations.
The Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebenezer Malcalm, who opened the event, acknowledged the role of the Dean of the GCTU Business School, Prof. Ampong, in initiating the partnership nearly two years ago. “Today is the fruit of all the engagements and dialogue. We are glad that this vision has now become a reality,” he remarked.
The event concluded with renewed commitment from both parties to work closely in operationalizing the provisions of the MoU, with the shared goal of enhancing educational opportunities and research impact across Africa.
