INFORMATION DOCKET - GHANA HE
18 SEPTEMBER 2016
Higher Education in Ghana A summary about state of university education in Ghana in 2016
Higher GDP Spending
Spending on education is 6% of GDP as 5% Global
Ghana As a Preferred Education Destination. Ghana has one of the most promising higher education sector in Africa with significant contribution from private sector. With sixteen (16) public universities and quasi-public tertiary institutions, polytechnics (now technical universities), two (2) private universities, number of nursing and education colleges and more than hundred (100) private university colleges (colleges), Ghana, despite its economic challenges, remains one of the preferred regional educational hub in Africa. Some of the major factors maintaining Ghana as a preferred destination are:
1 LOW COST OF TUITION & LIVING AS COMPARED TO EUROPE AND US
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ONLY W.AFRICAN COUNTRY IN TOP 10 TIMES HE RANKING FOR AFRICA
18% OF STUDENTS STUDYING IN GHANA ARE FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES 1
More than 100 private colleges
16 Public Universities, 2 Private Universities and more than 100 Private colleges.
High Inward Mobility of Students
Increased inward mobility of students from other African countries to Ghana.
INFORMATION DOCKET - GHANA HE
18 SEPTEMBER 2016
Role of Regional Education Hubs Regional hubs attracts a share of the global population of mobile students and are becoming favoured destinations for students within regions. Lower travel costs and cultural familiarity are part of the appeal for African students to opt for universities near to their home countries.
“Made in Ghana degrees are widely accepted globally by institutions and industry alike.”
As per report published by UNESCO Institute of Statistics ( http://www.uis.unesco.org), students from sub-Saharan Africa, who are the second most mobile, are staying closer to home. According to the latest data, 264,774 students studied abroad in 2013, up from 204,900 in 2003. But, in this period the outbound mobility ratio in the region dropped from 6% in to 4.0%. The shift suggests that domestic higher education systems are expanding steadily. As per the report the share of mobile students studying within the region increased in subSaharan Africa is from 18% to 22%.
Other countries, including South Africa, realised the strategic importance of education as an export a long time ago. Students coming to South Africa or any other country have to pay higher fees and spend money. Education as an export commodity has many advantages. The most obvious one is that the mobile students stimulate the economy the same way location of universities in Legon has created demand for real estate (student hostel).
Above all statistics and facts clearly points towards rapid creation of regional education hubs in Africa, with Ghana is enjoying a big share.
MEDICINE, NURSING, ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURE, COMPUTING Students are now willing to pay more for a degree in Medicine, Nursing, Engineering Agriculture and Computing. Most significant growth in terms of fresh students enrolments has been in Nursing. Colleges of Nursing saw a phenomenal growth in their enrolments (30%) during 2010/2013 academic years. (*source of data presented is from www.nab.gov.gh). Study of Engineering or Medicine were limited to public universities, but private institutions have now become preferred destination for students.
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