UEW Delegation Explores Academic and Research Collaborations with Tampere University

A high-level delegation from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), held strategic discussions with the leadership of Tampere University, Finland, to explore opportunities to strengthen academic, research and institutional collaboration between the two universities.

The UEW delegation included Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, the Vice-Chancellor of UEW; Prof. Benjamin Ghansah, the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Science Education; and Prof. Enoch Frederick Sam, the Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID).

The delegation met with Prof. Antti Lönnqvist, the Vice-President for Strategic Development at Tampere University, and Prof. Jussi Okkonen, to discuss ways to expand the existing relationship between the institutions into a more structured and sustainable strategic partnership.

A primary focus of the discussions was organising joint academic and research conferences. The two institutions examined the potential to collaborate on conferences that would bring together researchers, academics, industry practitioners, policymakers and other stakeholders from Ghana, Finland and beyond. Such conferences would serve as platforms for knowledge exchange, sharing research findings, networking and fostering new research collaborations.

The delegation also proposed an annual joint public lecture, providing a forum for distinguished scholars, researchers and practitioners from both institutions to share insights on emerging issues of global and societal importance. This lecture series aims to strengthen intellectual engagement between the universities while offering students and academic staff opportunities to interact with leading experts.

Another critical area discussed was joint supervision of master's and doctoral students. The institutions explored the possibility of academics from UEW and Tampere University jointly supervising postgraduate students, especially in areas of mutual research interest. Such collaborations would expose students to international research expertise, improve research quality and facilitate the development of long-term international research networks for students and supervisors.

Further discussions covered possibilities for joint research projects, collaborative publications, academic staff exchanges, postgraduate research mobility, seminars, workshops and developing joint proposals for international research funding.

The delegation also underlined the importance of fostering collaborations that go beyond individual projects and mobility initiatives towards establishing a long-term institutional partnership. Such a partnership would offer a framework for researchers and academic units from both universities to identify shared research priorities and develop sustainable cooperation programmes.

This engagement reflects UEW's commitment to expanding its international partnerships and strengthening its global research and academic networks. It aligns with the university’s broader aims of promoting internationalisation, research excellence, postgraduate development and knowledge exchange.

Discussions with Tampere University are expected to lay the groundwork for further collaboration, with both sides exploring mechanisms to turn these discussions into tangible activities.

The proposed partnership between UEW and Tampere University could create significant opportunities for academics, researchers and students from both institutions while contributing to the creation and dissemination of knowledge that addresses national, regional and global challenges.