University of Ghana

Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Ghana recently teamed up to expand international opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and PhD students.

“It’s quite a large undertaking that’s going to deepen the relationship that we’ve established with the University of Ghana for the last five years,” said Andrew Robinson, program coordinator of Laurier’s department of human rights and human diversity.

Robinson and Robert Ame, associate professor of human rights and criminology at Laurier, have taken the lead on the partnership.

The partnership was made possible due to $400,000 in funding which Laurier received from the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II diamond jubilee scholarships program.

“We are excited to have won this award. The idea of creating such a program came about because of the desire to develop global citizens,” Ame explained.

The partnership will allow 24 Laurier undergraduate students ,who are primarily in human rights, human diversity and global studies programs, to go on summer internships in Ghana for three months. The program will extend over the period of four years.

As well, funding will go toward enabling eight social work graduates students to do internships in Ghana.

“Students will work in organizations that are related to their studies and interests. They’re organizations that try to advance human rights and social justice issues,” Robinson explained.

The other part of the partnership involves Laurier’s graduate students from history, social work and criminology spending a term at the University of Ghana. As for students from the University of Ghana, over the course of four years eight students who are in African studies, history, sociology and social work will be able to study for a term and do research at Laurier.

“It’s also going to provide for one PhD student to do their whole PhD [in] Laurier’s social work program,” Robinson said.

Ame and Robinson expect “very important results” from the partnership and funding.

“One of our mission statements is internationalization. We aim to produce global citizens,” Ame said.

He also explained that this could help boost Laurier’s international reputation and positively impact students.

“We will produce students who have the skills necessary to work in a global environment because the world is now a global village. Many employers are now looking at graduates who have international skills.”

Robinson believes it is not only the students directly involved in the program who will benefit from the partnership. They are hoping to allow students on all levels share in the experience by possibly giving presentations to undergraduate classes.

“We are trying to bring an international influence that can be shared and enjoyed and benefited by all students at Laurier,” Robinson said.