Innovation for Change in Africa | Patrick Awuah | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Ashesi University in Ghana is changing the face of education in Africa by providing a liberal arts education that focuses on ethics and leadership.

Transcript

Male Presenter: Thanks for coming, everyone. OK. Robert de Sorbon, James Pierpont, John Harvard, Patrick Awuah. One of these is not like the others. Three of these men founded universities destined to change the face of education on a continent. John Harvard just gave a bunch of books and got a school named after it. Of the remaining three, we're... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌍 Ashesi University is pioneering a new model of education in Africa by combining a liberal arts core curriculum with a focus on ethics and leadership.
• ☠️ The university is successfully preparing students for careers in industry and government, with high job placement rates and recognition from corporate Ghana.
• 🎓 Ashesi is setting an example for other universities in Africa, pushing the envelope of what is possible and driving change in the education system.
• 🧑‍🎓 The university's success is attributed to its commitment to diversity and excellence, its focus on community service and civic engagement, and its implementation of a student-run honor system.
• 🌍 Ashesi aims to expand its impact by strengthening its base, broadening its offerings, and scaling its model to other institutions in Africa.
• 🖐️ Technology plays a role in Ashesi's success by facilitating communication, broadcasting events, and providing access to educational resources.
• ✋ The challenges of corruption and limited access to venture capital are addressed through Ashesi's focus on ethics and entrepreneurship and its efforts to foster a high-trust environment.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Ashesi University start?

Ashesi University was founded by Patrick Awuah, who left Microsoft to develop a business plan for a self-sustaining liberal arts university in Ghana.

Q: What is the mission of Ashesi University?

The mission of Ashesi University is to educate a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders in Africa, with the goal of driving a renaissance on the continent.

Q: What are some of the challenges that students at Ashesi University face?

Students at Ashesi come from diverse backgrounds and may face challenges such as academic disparities, financial constraints, and adjusting to a high-touch learning environment. The university provides resources such as learning labs and emergency funding to support their success.

Q: How does Ashesi University prepare students for their future careers?

Ashesi University focuses on developing leadership skills, critical thinking, and ethics through a combination of a liberal arts core curriculum and specialized programs in areas like engineering, management, economics, and law.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ashesi University was founded by Patrick Awuah, a former employee of Microsoft, who wanted to contribute to the renaissance of Africa by educating a new generation of ethical leaders.

• The university focuses on developing ethical, entrepreneurial leaders for industry and government in Africa through a liberal arts core curriculum.

• Ashesi students have achieved a high level of recognition and are in high demand for their ethics and critical thinking skills, putting pressure on other universities in Ghana to change their approach to education.