The 2-day meeting which took place from 20-21 September, 2022 began with the business meeting of Deputy Vice Chancellors, and a concurrent meeting of Centre Directors/representatives.  The meeting dovetailed into a joint meeting which deliberated on several critical matters relating to ARUA’s future and implementation of its strategic plan.

Key on the agenda was the discussion of the draft Data-Gathering and Benchmarking Project:  ARUA Profiles Report (2018-2021) and the draft PhD Review Report by HSRC which would be presented at the meeting of ARUA Vice-Chancellors when they meet in Cape Town in November.  Other areas focused on the 2023 Biennial Conference, the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, implementation of the Strategic Plan by Member Universities and the future of the organization, decentralizing ARUA, attracting new members to ARUA, membership and subscriptions, among others.  Frank and lively discussions led to consensus on all matters and the way forward for ARUA.  

Earlier, Prof. Felix Asante, University of Ghana’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development,  on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, welcomed participants to the University of Ghana.  He said as a founding member of ARUA, the University of Ghana was happy to be the host for the meeting.  ARUA Secretary-General, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, in his introductory remarks, thanked the University of Ghana as the meeting host and said he was happy that a physical meeting was taking place for the first time in 3 years as the pandemic made it impossible to have physical meetings.  Prof. Aryeetey said he was hopeful that the discussions would be both lively and productive.  

The hybrid event made it possible for those who could not travel to Accra to participate in the meeting virtually.

Some of the participants undertook a tour of the University of Ghana’s Legon Campus, taking them to the historic Great Hall of the University, and administration block, as well as the University of Ghana Medical Centre.    

An official dinner was hosted for the participants by the ARUA Secretary-General at his residence.