Enhancing sports education in Ghana: Radford, Loughborough universities in strategic partnership
Dr. Matin Luther Obeng, President of Radford University, addressing last Monday’s event.
On his left is Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University
RADFORD University College, a private Ghanaian university, has announced a strategic partnership with Loughborough University, a renowned UK institution famous for its sports-related programme, to develop comprehensive sports programs and courses for the next academic year.
The partnership will see the creation of postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma and certificate programmes at Radford University College. These initiatives are designed to advance Ghanaian sports and contribute to national development.
Stakeholder Meeting
During a stakeholder meeting held last Monday in Accra, which included members of various sporting federations, National Sports Authority (NSA), Parliamentary Committee on Sports, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the President of Radford University, Dr Martin Luther Obeng, highlighted the significance of this collaboration. He said sports education must encompass the holistic development of the individual and should no+ ›cus solely on physical skills but also nur • leadership, teamwork, and strategic think.
Dr Obeng expressed optimism that the partnership with Loughborough University would enable Radford University College to provide top-tier sports education in Ghana, as the collaboration between the two institutions would also leverage existing national infrastructure, such as facilities used for the 13th African Games, to promote sports, education, and development.
“By drawing inspiration from the Loughborough model, Ghana hopes to establish a similar institution that combines academic excellence with advanced sports training, significantly contributing to the country’s sports development,” Dr Obeng added.
The Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, touching on his institution’s commitment to having a global social impact.
He noted that Loughborough University had been recognised as the best university in the world for sports-related subjects for the eighth. consecutive year by the Global QS, Higher Education League table.
Prof. Jennings mentioned that Loughborough University already had partnerships with 10 different institutions worldwide and was eager to extend its expertise to Ghana.
The Deputy Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Majeed Bawa, welcomed the partnership, noting that private institutions utilizing existing sporting infrastructure is a positive
development. He revealed that the NSA had previously engaged with both institutions and endorsed the partnership.
He expressed hope that the collaboration would contribute to the establishment of the University for Sports for Development at the Borteyman Sports Complex in the coming years.
The partnership has also received endorsements from the President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Simeon-Okraku, and the General Secretary of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mohammed Sahnoon; further underscoring its potential impact on sports development in Ghana.
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By Kweku Zurek – Source: Daily Graphic