With the world being a global village, trade is an important economic factor for the development of many economies. Trading dates back to centuries where an early form of trade- barter saw the direct exchange of goods and services for other goods and services. As time evolved and globalization emerged, trade changed, becoming broader and more complex. The formation of trade blocs, such as the European Union (EU) and the Pacific Alliance, paved the way for policies such as free trade, constituting bilateral and multilateral trade, which greatly expanded market access and spurred economic growth.
According to the African Development Bank, in 2014 only 16% of international trade took place between African countries. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) also reports that Intra-African exports were 16.6% of total exports in 2017, compared with 68.1% in Europe, 59.4% in Asia, 55.0% in America and 7.0% in Oceania.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is widely seen as a crucial driver for economic growth, industrialization, and sustainable development in Africa. The agreement seeks to create a single African market of more than a billion consumers with a combined GDP of U$2.5 trillion. Through its various protocols, the AfCFTA Agreement addresses trade in goods (tariff liberalization schedules, non-tariff barriers, rules of origin), trade in services, competition, investment, and intellectual property. It is expected to boost intra-African agricultural trade, currently estimated to be less than 20 percent of total agricultural trade.
Despite its prospects, there continue to be implementation challenges that could thwart the efforts of the agreement.
A thriving 105-year-old liberal arts college based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Webster University’s mission is to ensure a high quality learning experience that transforms students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Ever since the doors of Webster Ghana were opened in 2013, students from across the world – undergraduate and graduate – have enrolled at the university’s only Africa campus each year to benefit from the cultural diversity and enriching academic environment. Though Webster is not an online university, it has been highlighted for being able to brave the challenges the COVID pandemic has presented to educational institutions.
While some universities continue to struggle to figure out uninterrupted higher education during these peculiar times, Webster University Ghana has not skipped a beat. Smoothly transitioning to virtual teaching and learning in April 2020 at the start of the health pandemic and continuing on through summer classes, Webster Ghana is looking to re-open this Fall (in October), pending government mandate, with a blended/hybrid style of instruction, making use of online technologies to support students and faculty. Webster has long been lauded a leader in online education since the 1990s and stakeholders at the Ghana campus also have the advantage of proprietary virtual platforms like WorldClassroom and a robust library, including close to 70,000 ebooks.
Webster Ghana is dual-accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) of Ghana and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in the United States (US), and all students receive a degree issued from the US. The 14-month Master’s programs – an MBA, M.A. in International Relations and M.A. in Human Resources – have further US accreditations. Regardless of specific degree area, Webster students follow the same curriculum worldwide. The lovely Ghana campus – which has dormitory accommodation – is centrally located in Accra’s coveted neighborhood of East Legon. The Fall semester has seen students start classes online with hopes of transitioning back to the classroom by the October term.
“Webster University has been a recognized, global leader in online education since the late 90’s. Given the university’s expertise in online learning, students have a wonderful opportunity to continue their studies virtually, receiving the same quality education they would have experienced in person, thanks to the myriad of online tools, training sessions and platforms available to all Webster students throughout the worldwide network,” says Webster Ghana’s Campus Director, Mrs. Christa Sanders-Bobtoya.
Webster University provides the unique opportunity for students to study abroad during their course of study after their first year. They may elect to do so for a nine-week term, semester or an entire academic year at any of Webster University’s international network of campuses including Switzerland, Austria, the Netherland, US, Thailand, China, Greece, the UK and Uzbekistan. As professors have this same opportunity, students in Ghana learn under top notch global faculty.
On more digital education wins, through the Webster Success Center, this past summer some students were able to secure virtual internships with multinational companies and the school launched the premier edition of its Summer Virtual Learning Program, a 4-week transition and college prep experience for high school seniors.
Admissions is ongoing for both undergraduate and graduate programs – October and January 2021 starts, with plans to start online and transition to campus in the last quarter of the year. Webster University Ghana’s Admissions Office can be reached by phone on 054 012 0849 / 054 012 0869.
The focus of institutions of higher learning is fast shifting from simply developing the knowledge base of students to the provisions of a well-rounded student-learning experience. Webster University Ghana, the only international campus location of Webster University on the African continent, is uniquely positioned to provide this opportunity.
A thriving liberal arts school and worldwide institution, Webster University’s mission is to ensure a high-quality learning experience that transforms students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Since the doors of Webster University Ghana were opened in 2014, students from across the world have enrolled at Webster Ghana each year and have benefitted from the cultural diversity and enriching academic environment. The modern campus, which has residential accommodations – is centrally located in Ghana’s capital Accra and in the much-coveted neighborhood of East Legon.
Currently, Webster University Ghana has enrolled both undergraduate and graduate students from over 25 different countries, spanning four continents. Furthermore, Webster receives a rotation of international visiting faculty every few weeks to teach students in both the graduate and undergraduate programs.
Christa Sanders – Campus Director – Webster University Ghana
The university’s Ghana campus offers a growing number of undergraduate majors, an Africana studies minor, and on the graduate side, a Master’s of Business Administration as well as an MA in International Relations. Graduate classes are held in the evenings and weekends only, to allow working professionals to continue work while pursuing a graduate degree.
Webster University Ghana offers a practical, hands-on approach to learning with small classrooms, not exceeding 25 students per space. Students are exposed to new ways of thinking and encouraged to strengthen their critical-thinking skills through ongoing debates both inside and outside of the classroom setting. Webster Ghana alumni are also part of the larger, elite network of over 190,000 alumni worldwide.
Webster Ghana is accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) of Ghana and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) in the United States (US). All students receive a degree issued from the US and, regardless of specific degree area, follow the same curriculum worldwide.
The home campus in St Louis, Missouri, has an impressive track record of over 105 years of providing high-quality American education. Scholarships are also available for students and the Ghana campus is fortunate to have a lower tuition rate than the other international campuses where Webster has presence.
Webster University provides the opportunity for students to also study abroad during their course of study. Students may elect to study abroad for a nine-week term, semester or an entire academic year at any of Webster University’s international campuses. The current international campuses outside Ghana include Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, US, Thailand, China, Greece, the UK, and Uzbekistan. Webster also provides the World Traveler program which provides a free plane ticket to a campus of your choice!
Unlike most universities with only an August year start, Webster has 5 enrollment periods per year, allowing flexible start dates. Prospective students can apply at any time during the year and begin in August, October, January, March, and May. Learn More
