A delegation from the Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlín, Czech Republic, has visited the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to discuss academic collaboration.
The delegation, led by the TBU Vice Dean for International Relations, Dr. Prěmek Pálka, held talks with UPSA’s leadership on potential partnerships, focussing on student, faculty, and staff exchange programmes, as well as joint research initiatives.
Dr. Pálka expressed keen interest in fostering academic ties, stating, “We would like to see more Ghanaian students take advantage of this opportunity.”
The Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Prof. Abednego Okoe Amartey, warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed gratitude for their interest in collaborating with UPSA.
He stated, at the meeting on Monday October 7, 2024, that the visit by the TBU delegation marks the beginning of a promising partnership with potential for significant academic growth and exchange between UPSA and TBU.
“Your visit is an endorsement of the confidence you have in UPSA,” Prof. Amartey remarked. “We must work diligently to operationalise everything we have discussed.”
Prof Amartey was particularly excited about a planned student exchange programme, which is expected to commence in the next academic year.
Director of the UPSA Centre for International Education and Collaboration (CIEC), Ivy Heward-Mills, emphasised the university’s openness to scholarship opportunities, particularly for faculty pursuing PhD programmes abroad.
“We are excited about the prospects this partnership brings,” she said while underscoring the importance of implementing the proposed agreements in the near future.
The visit is expected to culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), formalising the partnership and marking the start of the collaboration between the two institutions.
The Tomas Bata University delegation included Prof. Michal Pilik, Dean of the Faculty of Management & Economics; Prof. Michael Kwarteng, Lecturer; and Prof. Alex Ntsiful, Lecturer.
The UPSA party included Prof. Emmanuel Selase Asamoah, Dean of the Faculty of IT and Communication Studies; Prof. Isaac Boadi, Dean of Accounting and Finance; Prof. Fidelis Quansah, Dean of Management Studies; Prof. Abigail Opoku Mensah, Director of the Centre for Research and Consultancy; and Prof. Samuel Antwi, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
