The All Nations University has held its second annual International Conference in Koforidua in the Eastern Region for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students, faculty members, and church leaders.
The three-day conference was themed: “African Flagship Private Universities: Changing the Paradigm of Higher Education.”
Professor Samuel H. Donkor, President of All Nations University, said the conference aimed to compile and present papers on key academic and developmental themes.
These included Christianity and higher education from a Western perspective, integrating theology with other disciplines, mentorship in private universities, digital transformation in the oil and gas sector, and financing and sustainability strategies for private universities in Ghana.
He underscored the value of conference papers as a platform for researchers to present preliminary findings, test the validity of their work, identify weaknesses, and refine their ideas.
He announced plans to collaborate with sister universities and institutions in future editions.
Prof. Donkor also emphasized the importance of leadership and governance, stating, “It is one of the major things that every nation, every company, and every association needs, but getting the quality needed for development is what we are striving for.”
He appealed to the government and benevolent organizations to support private universities with infrastructure and educational resources.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Sunil Thomas Chandy, former Director of the Christian Medical College in Vellore, India, noted that Africa contributed less than two percent to global research output and attributed that to inadequate research infrastructure, limited investment, and weak collaboration between universities and industries.
Dr. Chandy highlighted infrastructure deficits in many African universities, citing instances where 40 computers served large student populations.
He also pointed to unreliable electricity supply as a barrier to effective teaching, research, and digital learning, urging governments to invest in technology and infrastructure.
He expressed concern over rising moral decline and advocated the inclusion of character development in academic curricula.
He also called for the integration of entrepreneurship education across disciplines to equip students as job creators.
Dr. Chandy recommended the establishment of quality assurance mechanisms to conduct institutional audits, accredit programmes, and publish performance reports.
In his closing remarks, he commended All Nations University for its achievements as a chartered institution, nurturing over 2,000 students and offering 14 undergraduate and 12 graduate programmes.
Source: GNA
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