Ghana and Italy have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in education following a high-level meeting between the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, and the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Laura Ranalli.
The meeting, held in Accra on Monday, June 8, 2026, brought together senior officials and academic leaders from both countries to explore expanded collaboration in tertiary education, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), research, innovation, scholarships, and student exchange programmes.
Mr. Iddrisu reiterated government’s readiness to support structured partnerships between Ghanaian and Italian universities, stressing that all collaborations would be regulated through proper accreditation frameworks with oversight from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
He also announced plans to establish a dedicated TVET Fund to strengthen technical and vocational education, alongside a policy initiative to expand foreign language instruction in senior high schools, including Italian, German, Spanish, and Chinese, to enhance students’ global competitiveness.
Professor Daniela Mapelli of the University of Padua expressed the institution’s strong interest in internationalisation, particularly through student and PhD exchange programmes, and indicated readiness to deepen collaboration with Ghanaian universities.
She highlighted an existing partnership with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and expressed interest in expanding cooperation within the African Research Universities Alliance, including the University of Ghana.
The Education Minister encouraged broader engagement with other institutions such as the University of Cape Coast and the University of Mines and Technology, depending on areas of academic focus, and urged Italian partners to consult GTEC’s database for a clearer understanding of Ghana’s tertiary education landscape.
He further called for formal communication of scholarship opportunities to improve access for Ghanaian students and researchers.
The meeting also confirmed plans for an official visit to Ghana by Italy’s Minister for Education in August 2026 to advance discussions on long-term academic cooperation.
The Italian delegation included Professor Mapelli, who became the first female rector of the University of Padua in over 800 years, alongside other education officials.
The Ghanaian delegation comprised officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, including Chief Director Mrs. Lydia Essuah, Prof. George K. T. Oduro, Prof. Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Ms. Matilda Azuimah, and Mr. Jerry Sarfo.
The engagement reflects growing Ghana–Italy relations in education and a shared commitment to advancing research, innovation, and skills development for mutual benefit.
Source: citinews
