UG Vice Chancellor appointed Chair of worldwide universities network

The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) has appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, as its new Chair, placing her at the helm of one of the world’s leading international higher education and research partnerships.

The appointment marks another significant milestone in Professor Amfo’s academic leadership journey and underscores the growing influence of the University of Ghana within the global research and higher education community.

In announcing the appointment, WUN described Professor Amfo as a distinguished academic leader whose scholarly achievements, institutional leadership experience and commitment to addressing global challenges through research make her well-suited for the role.

The Network noted that her appointment reflects both the diversity of its membership and its enduring commitment to fostering international collaboration in higher education and research.

Professor Amfo assumes the position after serving as Vice-Chair of the Network, where she played a key role in strengthening partnerships among member institutions and advancing shared research priorities across regions.

Reacting to her appointment, Professor Amfo described WUN as a vital platform for driving impactful global research collaborations and expressed her readiness to work with the Network’s new Executive Director, Professor Dawn Freshwater, to expand its reach and impact.

“WUN is an engine for global research collaboration. I am looking forward to working with the new Executive Director, Professor Dawn Freshwater, to strengthen our collaborations and achieve greater impact,” she said.

She further highlighted the value of the Network’s connections between institutions in the Global North and Global South, noting that such partnerships enrich research outcomes and ensure that solutions are informed by diverse perspectives and experiences.

According to Professor Amfo, international cooperation remains critical to tackling increasingly complex global challenges, stressing that collaborative research offers the best opportunity to deliver meaningful and lasting solutions for communities worldwide.

Professor Amfo succeeds Professor Bill Flanagan, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Alberta in Canada, who previously served as Chair of the Network.

The University of Ghana has welcomed the appointment, describing it as recognition of Professor Amfo’s outstanding leadership and contributions to higher education both in Ghana and internationally.

The university said the appointment further reinforces its vision of achieving global impact through innovative research, teaching and learning while strengthening its position as a key partner in international knowledge creation and research collaboration.

It also expressed confidence that under Professor Amfo’s leadership, the Network will continue to deepen collaboration among member institutions and enhance the impact of research aimed at addressing pressing global challenges.

The Worldwide Universities Network is a global alliance of 24 research-intensive universities across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. The Network promotes collaborative research, capacity building and student engagement to address issues of international significance and advance global education.