By Dr Ola Uduku, Reader in Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art
Professor Miles Glendinning and I spent some time in Ghana’s capital city Accra last week in order to develop our links with the University of Ghana institution and visit their archive and library.
Professor Akosua Ampfo, Director of the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies, was an invaluable source of knowledge and we were delighted she took the time to meet with us and develop the relationship between our two universities.
Prof Glendinning and Dr Uduku with Prof Ampfo.
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of Ghana’s thirteen universities and is integral to the development of our research and partnerships in the country.
Our time in Ghana also provided an opportunity to meet with fellow Accra-based Edinburgh colleagues and contacts and culminated in the electing of a new President and Secretary for Accra’s Edinburgh alumni group.
Dr Kevin Adutwum-ofosu, who graduated from Edinburgh with a Doctorate of Philosophy, was appointed President and Ama Akuamoah, who holds an MSc in Africa and International Development from Edinburgh, took up the role of secretary.
Dr Kevin Adutwum-ofosu and Ama Akuamoah,
While In Ghana we also met with the Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Professor Otoo Ellis.
We were able to discuss future collaborations between Edinburgh and KNUST, including teaching collaborations at Masters level.
The ultimate aim is to deliver a future Masters Course at the Architecture School at KNUST, focused on West African Conservation.
Prof Glendinning and I have now moved on to Kumasi, in the north of the country, in order to co-host the Conserving African Modernism Conference on Monday and Tuesday this week.
The conference is jointly funded by Edinburgh and a number of other organisations.
Looking forward to a constructive and exciting week.