From J.Y Owusu, GNA Special Correspondent, Adidjan-Cocody

Abidjan-Cocody, Dec. 26, GNA - The Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, has called for strong partnership among Universities in Africa, especially those in the West Africa sub region.

African Universities, Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said, should also create networks in international capacity building, exchange ideas with one another and expose their students to developments and programmes pertaining in sister African institutions to broaden their horizon. Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw made the call at a special award ceremony organized by the University of Charles-Louis De...Montesquieu (UCLM) in Abidjan-Cocody, Cote d'Ivoire, to confer Honorary PhD degrees on three distinguished personalities for their excellent contributions to the development of Africa.

They are, Mr. Bernard B. Dadie a former Minister and Mr. Charles Kofi Diby, Economic and Finance Minister, both of Cote d'Ivoire, and Mr. Maitre Titinga from Burkina Faso.

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw, who was the guest speaker was appointed a Member of the University of Charles Louis De...Montesquieu Award Committee in October, this year.

He said, besides helping to strengthen common cultural, social and political ties of countries in the Sub-Region, it would go a long way to promote education, particularly the study of the French language by citizens of English speaking countries.

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said the University of Education attached great importance to partnership and collaboration with academic and research institutions abroad.

He said that in order to effectively maintain and promote partnership and collaboration UEW had initiated, a special unit to handle international issues.

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw said the Office of International Relations, was to coordinate the University's International activities, provide information and support faculties, schools and the various academic units in line with the University's international strategic objectives. He said UEW had bilateral collaborative agreements with several institutions in the United States of America (USA), Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Experience has shown that collaboration with the developed countries tends to have a paternalistic tendency, with the African partner playing second fiddle to the advanced country, Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw stated. "This is the reason why UEW is seeking to establish partnership with sister African countries, especially those in the West African Sub-Region, adding that there is the need for us to exchange expertise in various identifiable areas for the good of our people and nations," the Vice Chancellor said.

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw stressed, "There is also the dire need for African Universities to give assistance to each other, particularly in the area of post graduate studies", saying "there is no doubt that we are all seriously handicapped in this area".

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw commended the Director of International Relations and Head of the Department of French of UEW for taking the initiative to create an inter-University PhD programme within the context of an International University School of Doctoral Studies. The objectives of the programme include, the constitution of a consortium of experts to provide a pool from which the individual Universities could draw, Facilitate African Inter-University co-operation; contribute to a better staff development programme and certification; put varied and diversified documentation at the disposal of researchers and enhance the free movement of researchers within the setting of the various Universities.

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw described the goals of the programme as "very laudable", especially in view of the fact that Universities on the African continent lacked adequate expertise to supervise students undertaking research at the very high level.

He said that the programme would also enhance cross-cultural exchange between Francophone and Anglophone countries. The Vice Chancellor charged the Management Committee of the programme to put in their maximum effort to realize "these noble ideals" in good time.

The President of the Award Committee, Professor Francis V. Wodie, welcomed Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw's suggestions and expressed the hope that heads of African institutes of higher learning would embrace and make good use of the proposals to promote the socio-economic, cultural, spiritual and political well being of Africa.

He said the award was instituted to promote and encourage personalities in the science, arts and culture in Africa and education in general.

Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw took advantage of the visit to tour a number of tertiary institutions in Cote d'Ivoire and interacted with the Authorities of those institutions on bilateral issues. Prof. Asabere-Ameyaw was accompanied by Professor Francis Joppa, Director, responsible for International Relations and Dr. Dominic Amuzu, Head of the French Department, both of the UEW.