UEW Explores Academic and Sports Collaboration with Denmark’s UCL University

Welcoming the delegation, Mrs. Ekua Abedi-Boafo, the Registrar of UEW, described the visit as timely and consistent with the University’s mandate as Ghana’s premier teacher education institution. She stressed that meaningful international collaborations were essential for broadening students’ perspectives, enhancing staff research output and increasing UEW’s global visibility.  

Mrs. Ekua Abedi-Boafo explained that UEW remained keen on partnerships that would enable staff and student exchanges, joint research and knowledge sharing, adding that the visit should allow both institutions to assess their academic structures and identify common grounds for cooperation before formalising an agreement.

Providing background to the engagement, Prof. Charles K. Assuah, the Dean of the Centre for International Programmes (CIP), traced the relationship to an initial encounter between UEW staff and Danish counterparts at an academic conference in Finland several years ago. According to him, subsequent interactions and reciprocal visits had laid the foundation for the current discussions, which are intended to culminate in a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He noted that although a formal collaboration had not yet been signed, the current visit represented a critical step towards deepening mutual understanding and aligning institutional interests.

Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UEW, emphasised the importance of expediting the preparation of an MoU to give clear direction to the partnership. She highlighted joint research, comparative education studies at secondary and tertiary levels and co-authored scholarly publications as key areas of potential collaboration that would enhance the academic visibility of both institutions.

Adding a cultural dimension to the discussions, Prof. Frimpong Kaakyire Duku, the Principal of the College for Distance and e-Learning (CoDEL), likened the proposed partnership to a traditional Ghanaian marriage founded on mutual commitment rather than material exchange. He described the collaboration as a “win-win” opportunity that would expose UEW students to global best practices while also acknowledging the relevance of the donated sports equipment as UEW prepares to host the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Games in January 2027.

Earlier, a senior lecturer at the Department of Theatre Arts, Dr. Latipher Ama Appiah-Agyei, recounted her personal role in nurturing the relationship through academic exchanges and visits to Denmark. She noted that her exposure to UCL’s academic environment further strengthened the case for collaboration, particularly in physical education and movement studies, areas she believes hold strong potential for mutual benefit.

Speaking on behalf of the Danish delegation, Mr. Claus Ottesen, a senior lecturer at UCL Denmark, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and affirmed his institution’s readiness to pursue a deeper and more structured partnership with UEW. He disclosed that UCL is actively involved in high-level research projects and policy-driven educational initiatives for Denmark’s Ministry of Education as well as European-funded programmes which could provide broader platforms for joint projects.

He further indicated that UCL’s ongoing European project on physically active learning in schools could present immediate opportunities for collaboration, particularly at the senior high school level.

Supporting this position, Ms. Katrine Berteisen, a senior lecturer from UC South Denmark, cited a national physical education research project currently underway in Denmark as a possible entry point for joint research. She noted that comparative studies between Ghana and Denmark could lead to peer-reviewed international publications, describing such initiatives as practical steps towards building a sustainable partnership.

The Danish delegation also presented assorted sports equipment, including footballs and handballs, to support UEW’s sporting activities.

Prof. Fred Yao Gbagbo, the Dean of the Faculty of Health, Allied Sciences and Home Economics Education (FHASHEE), commended the proposed collaboration, describing it as timely for a growing faculty seeking to strengthen its international outlook and research capacity.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to fast-track processes towards a formal agreement, while deepening engagements at faculty and departmental levels to ensure that the partnership delivers tangible academic and developmental outcomes for both institutions.