The Institutional Advancement Directorate (InAD), on Thursday, February 27, 2025, organised the 2025 Deans and Directors in Leadership and Advancement Conference.
This year’s conference theme was “Navigating International Relations and Aid Dynamics: Accreditation, Fundraising, and Stressors in Higher Education.”
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo charged Deans and Directors of the University to navigate the current global higher education landscape with ‘foresight and strategic planning.’ According to Prof. Amfo, this sector is undergoing a ‘significant transformation influenced by emerging international relations trends and a changing aid landscape.’
‘Fundraising efforts are essential for sustaining and expanding our educational programmes while addressing the stressors in higher education is crucial for the well-being of our faculty, staff, and students,’ she added.
This statement was made on her behalf by the Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Nii Ardey Codjoe at the 2025 Deans and Directors Conference organised by the Institutional Advancement Directorate (InAD).
In his address, the Director of the Institutional Advancement Directorate, Prof Kwasi Dartey-Baah said “As leaders in higher education, we are constantly challenged to adapt to evolving international relations issues and the dynamics of aid. Accreditation processes, fundraising efforts, and the stressors we face require innovative solutions and collaborative approaches. We’re here to dialogue and brainstorm to ensure there is sustainable resource mobilization within the university. As we have done in previous editions, this conference will provide a unique platform to share insights, strategies, and best practices that will empower us to lead our institutions with resilience and foresight.”
The conference was structured around keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and interactive Q&A sessions.
The Dean of UG School of Law, Prof. Raymond Atuguba, Director, Institutional Advancement Directorate, Prof. Kwasi Dartey–Baah, and Snr. Counsellor with Careers and Counselling Directorate, Dr. Gladys Setordzi delivered presentations on Emerging International Relations and Changing Aid Landscape, Academic Accreditation and its Impact on Advancement and Fundraising, and Stressors and their Management respectively.
During the breakout sessions, the Dean of UGBS, Prof. Bawole, the Head of Projects at InAD, Ms Joy Lamptey, and the Director of Finance, Mr. Benjamin Addo facilitated discussions on key topics including International Collaboration and Partnerships, Achieving and Maintaining Academic Accreditation, and Initiating and Funding CAPEX Projects respectively.
The global higher education landscape is undergoing significant transformation influenced by emerging international relations and a changing aid landscape. These shifts present opportunities and challenges for universities, particularly in the Global South. In this context, the Institutional Advancement Directorate of the University of Ghana organised the 2025 Deans and Directors in Leadership and Advancement Conference to explore and address critical issues such as accreditation, higher education fundraising, and the stressors associated with these endeavours.
The Institutional Advancement Directorate (InAD) is a key strategic unit at the University of Ghana, established in 2017. It supports various university units, including Colleges and Schools, in fulfilling their mandates. Directly under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, InAD is led by a Director and operates through four key sub-units: Alumni Relations, Marketing and Communication, Major Donor Fundraising, and Projects.
InAD is mandated to build a dynamic and engaged alumni network, drive the university’s advancement in marketing and communication efforts, secure financial and in-kind support for the university’s developmental projects, and support the implementation of donor-funded and UG developmental projects.
As part of its programmes, InAD organises this annual workshop designed to address key issues related to leadership and advancement in higher education. It brings together Deans and Directors from across the university community to engage in professional development. Other programmes organised by InAD include the Unit-Specific Customer Relations Training and the Industry