Beginning of a new generation
PATRICK Awuah felt that he could never return to Ghana once he stepped foot in the United States to pursue his tertiary studies back in 1985.
He had only US$50 (RM208) in his pocket and a full scholarship to study engineering in Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania.
Still, even after building a successful career in Microsoft, where he spearheaded the design for dial-up Internet access, he says he did not feel fulfilled and returned to Ghana intending to start a software company.
However, the situation back in Ghana showed him that there was a dire need to foster ethical leadership to bring about a positive change in the continent.
Awuah says he decided to enrol in the University of California, Berkeley, to understand what it takes to start a university that would foster leadership and integrity.
“In fact, it is my responsibility to go back for the future generations (of Ghana),” he says.
In 2002, he opened Ashesi University College in a rented house with 30 students.
“Ashesi means beginning,” he says, adding that it is meant to symbolise the beginning of a new generation of leaders in Ghana and across the African continent.
“I decided to create a new university in Ghana not because of a lack of universities in my country but a lack of universities teaching 21st century skills.
“There was too much emphasis on rote learning and memorisation, much less on critical or independent thinking, ethics or collaboration,” he says.
Now, the founder and president of Ashesi University and College, Ghana, became the sixth recipient of the WISE Prize for Education Laureate.
The prize was presented to him by Qatar Foundation chairperson Sheikha Moza Nasser during the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), recently held in Doha, Qatar.
Today, the university college has a world-class campus of 100 acres, overlooking Accra with nearly 900 students.
In 2008, the students established their own honour code, holding themselves responsible for ethical behaviour, the first of its kind in African universities.
Every one of the graduates have now found quality employment and almost all have remained in Africa, where many have opened much-needed businesses.
“Ours have been and continues to be a journey of a truly committed community.”
The WISE Prize for Education was established in 2011 by Qatar Foundation chairperson Sheikha Moza to recognise individuals or teams of up to six people for an outstanding contributions to education.
The laureate receives the gold WISE Prize for Education medal and US$500,000 (RM2.08mil).