Indiana University (IU) has expanded its global reach by opening a new Global Gateway office in Accra, Ghana, making it the only public university in the U.S. to establish such a presence in Africa. This initiative builds on decades of collaborative research, international partnerships, and global health efforts on the continent.
The IU Ghana Gateway officially launched Monday during a ceremony at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences. This office is IU’s sixth Global Gateway, joining similar facilities in Mexico City, New Delhi, Bangkok, Beijing, and Berlin. These gateways aim to enhance IU’s global engagement, facilitating educational and research opportunities across various world regions.
“We have ambitious goals for faculty to pursue transformational research with partners around the globe and for our students to have extraordinary educational experiences abroad,” IU President Pamela Whitten said in a press release. “The IU Ghana Gateway formalizes decades of IU engagement in the region and places us at the center of the world’s fastest-emerging economic hub.”
The move aligns with IU’s 2030 strategic plan, which focuses on fostering global partnerships and collaborations to strengthen local and international communities. The facility will be led by Samuel Obeng, a linguistics professor renowned for his work in African language phonetics.
The Ghana Gateway will serve multiple roles, including connecting IU students with global internships, study abroad programs, and virtual exchanges. It will also function as a hub for interdisciplinary research, cultural exchange, and engagement with local governments and NGOs. Over the past decade, IU’s other gateways have facilitated significant international activities, including supporting over 2,200 students in global experiences.
“Universities foster intercultural learning and competence, skills necessary for our students to thrive in a globalized world,” Hilary Kahn, IU’s interim vice president for international affairs, said during the launch ceremony. “Too often we are limited by geography to conversations that stop at our borders, but by committing to having a physical presence in Ghana, IU engages with rising social, economic and cultural leaders across Africa where they are. The Ghana Gateway will continue to connect students and scholars to global conversations and collective problem-solving on the African continent.”
