Dear Friends,
Ashesi’s potential for impact is greater than ever. This year’s freshman class is our largest and most diverse yet, with 278 students from 18 African countries, 48% of whom are women. They bring Ashesi’s total enrollment to just under 800 students. Among freshmen entering our engineering program, over 40% are women, moving us toward our goal of gender balance in engineering. Over the next four years, our freshman class will be challenged and transformed by Ashesi’s unique emphasis on ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship.
To prepare students for Africa’s complex, rapidly changing landscape, we continually expand and improve our educational model. In the new Foundations for Design and Entrepreneurship course required for all freshmen, students are quickly immersed in teamwork and hands-on learning. Using design thinking, teams analyze a local problem in depth, brainstorm creative solutions, and launch a small enterprise. Students can continue this approach in the Ashesi Design Lab, where they undertake their own initiatives at a more advanced level.
The resulting initiatives are reaching from the greater Accra area to the home countries of Ashesi students across Africa. Pearl Gemegah ‘19 is utilizing the Design Lab to conduct market research for photovoltaic solar cells she is developing in collaboration with the Danish Technical University to address Ghana’s energy challenges. Gambian sophomore Jobe Wuyeh is applying design thinking by devising a modern fruit farm to inspire youth back home. According to Jobe, Gambian youth tend to shy away from agriculture; he hopes to show them its importance and business potential.
Ashesi’s unique educational experience is yielding dividends across Africa. Now, we are asking you to join us in the drive to grow to 1,200 students, while maintaining our educational excellence and our commitment to scholarships. As the number of students increases, we need partners to help fund program growth, scholarships, and more spaces for students to live, learn and collaborate. Some of the exciting projects on the drawing board include a Learning & Research Lab for students and faculty, a Student Center which will be a hub for the community to meet and engage with each other, and more student housing.
We are deeply grateful to our donors who have made our successes at Ashesi possible. Today, we hope you will consider making a gift to help increase Ashesi’s impact by bringing the transformative Ashesi experience to 1,200 students. We look forward to your continued engagement in our journey ahead.
Sincerely,
Patrick Awuah
President, Ashesi University Foundation and Ashesi University College
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