Abstract

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region encompasses a diverse and dynamic group of countries with unique challenges and opportunities in the realm of higher education. This presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the higher education landscape in the ECOWAS region, highlighting key issues, trends, and potential pathways for development.

The first part of the presentation will examine the current state of higher education in ECOWAS countries, focusing on enrollment rates, access to education, quality of educational institutions, and the relevance of curricula to the socio-economic needs of the region. We will explore disparities in educational attainment and the role of gender, socio-economic status, and geographic location in shaping access to higher education.

Next, the presentation will delve into the challenges faced by higher education institutions in the region. These challenges include inadequate funding, brain drain, limited research output, and the need for infrastructure development. The impact of political instability and economic fluctuations on higher education will also be discussed.

Despite these challenges, the ECOWAS region presents significant opportunities for growth and innovation in higher education. This presentation will highlight successful initiatives and best practices from within the region and beyond that can be leveraged to improve higher education systems. These include public-private partnerships, digital education platforms, transnational education and regional collaborations aimed at fostering academic mobility and research networks.

Finally, the presentation will outline strategic recommendations for policymakers, educational leaders, and stakeholders to enhance the quality, accessibility, and relevance of higher education in the ECOWAS region. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of sustainable investment, capacity building, and the alignment of educational outcomes with regional development goals.

Key Words: ECOWAS; Ghana; Higher Education; Challenges; Opportunities

CV

Patrick Amfo Anim is a lecturer in the Business Studies Department at Lancaster University Ghana. He employs innovative teaching methods to foster knowledge acquisition and prepare students for successful careers. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Ghana Business School and holds an M.Phil. and a B.Sc. in Marketing from the University of Ghana and the University of Professional Studies Accra, respectively.

His research interests span a broad spectrum of contemporary marketing topics, including Sustainability Marketing, B2B Marketing, Branding, Political Marketing, Service innovation, Digital marketing and Entrepreneurship. His scholarly works have been published in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals such as the Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, Journal of Consumer Marketing, European Journal of Innovation Management, and Journal of Enterprising Communities: people and places in global communities.

Patrick is also an active reviewer for several esteemed journals, including the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, European Journal of Marketing, Marketing Intelligence and planning, and Management Research Review. He has also presented his research at notable international conferences.

Dr. Emmanuel Arthur is the Provost and CEO of Lancaster University Ghana, along with being a marketing practitioner and academic.  He holds a B.A (Hons) degree from the University of Ghana Legon, a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing U.K., M.A from Birmingham City University, Postgraduate Cert in Education from Lancaster University U.K and a PhD from London Metropolitan University. He is a Chartered Marketer and a full member of both the Chartered Institute of Marketing, U.K. and Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana.

Emmanuel possesses extensive industry and academic experience having worked in several corporate institutions in Ghana and taught in universities in Ghana as well. His last held corporate position was Marketing Manager of Ghana Airports Company Ltd (GACL) where besides being the focal person for tourism and attracting airlines to operate to Ghana also played a pivotal role in rebranding airports in Ghana when the GACL decoupled from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.

He has consulted and provided training for several corporate institutions in Ghana and as an academic has published in reputable journals and also a reviewer for several journals. His research interest spans market orientation, service marketing, international and export marketing, general application of strategic marketing principles, Ghana’s mobile telecommunications, aviation and oil and gas industries.