The University of Stirling has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University for Development Studies in Ghana on a wide range of health and socio-economic development projects.
Staff from the Stirling Institute for People-Centred Healthcare Management, the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health and the Stirling Management School will all be actively involved in this project to share expertise and experience on health care delivery in both countries.
This follows the creation of a coalition between the University for Development Studies in Ghana, Ghana’s Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service with the University of Stirling, NHS Highland and the Ghanaian Diaspora group in the United Kingdom. The coalition is a three year project, sponsored by the British Council (DelPHE), which will run until August 2013.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Professor Haruna Yakubu, Vice-Chancellor, the University for Development Studies in Ghana and Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, on 6 April.
Professor McCormac said: “This agreement signals the establishment of stronger ties between Scotland and Ghana, particularly in healthcare and management. This will create real opportunities for knowledge exchange.
“Our long term goal is to engage in funded activities linked to sustainable development and poverty reduction, to support rural health care in Ghana. This can be done by providing access to postgraduate education in management and health, and by improving training for midwives and mental health nurses in rural communities.”
The visit also provided the Stirling Institute for People-Centred Healthcare Management with a unique occasion to discuss other ways in which the two universities can collaborate in advancing Ghanaian and Scottish national interests. The Honorary Consul for Ghana in Scotland, Dr Charles Aryiku, met the delegation and the Head of Stirling Management School, Professor Roger Sugden.
The Ghanaian delegation is spending time at both the Inverness and Stirling campuses of the university, also meeting with NHS Highland and NHS Forth Valley.
Notes
The Stirling Institute for People-Centred Healthcare Management is a partnership between Stirling Management School and the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at the University of Stirling.
For further information about Stirling Management School, see www.management.stir.ac.uk