Renowned Migration Scholar Visits UG for High-Level Engagements on Collaboration and Public Lecture
Prof. Anna Triandafyllidou, the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), has visited the University of Ghana (UG) for a series of high-level engagements aimed at promoting academic and research collaborations in migration studies.
Her visit, which spanned multiple meetings and interactions with university leadership, faculty, and researchers, also included a public lecture on migration governance. The visit provided an opportunity to explore strategic partnerships in migration research, student and faculty exchanges, and policy-driven projects.
Prof. Triandafyllidou’s engagements began with a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, where discussions focused on strengthening research collaborations between UG and TMU. Prof. Amfo reaffirmed the University’s commitment to impactful research, highlighting migration governance, climate change, and public health as priority areas for international partnerships.
"The University of Ghana is always open to meaningful collaborations that align with our research priorities and contribute to global knowledge," the Vice-Chancellor stated.
Prof. Triandafyllidou welcomed UG’s interest in migration studies and expressed her readiness to explore joint research projects, student and faculty exchanges, and interdisciplinary initiatives. She noted that Africa plays a crucial role in global migration discussions, making partnerships with institutions like UG essential in shaping policies and research-driven solutions.
The International Programmes Office (IPO) hosted an introductory meeting with Prof. Triandafyllidou, where the Dean of IPO, Prof. Jemima Asabea Anderson, provided an overview of UG’s collegiate system and the role of IPO in facilitating global partnerships. She mentioned the University’s commitment to internationalization and advancing collaborations that enhance research impact.
Prof. Anderson highlighted that UG’s internationalization agenda is rooted in building relationships with institutions that share similar research priorities, particularly in migration, governance, and social transformation.
The Director of the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) and IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement in Anglophone West Africa, Prof. Mary B. Setrana, described the engagement as a step toward strengthening migration research at UG. She noted that CMS has been at the forefront of migration research in Ghana and beyond, making partnerships like this vital to advancing knowledge and influencing policy.
She also highlighted an ongoing research collaboration between CMS and the Canada Excellence Research Chair, focusing on migration governance and forced displacement in West Africa.
Prof. Triandafyllidou, in response, stressed the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-border research in shaping migration policies.
"Over the past 30 years, I have been working on issues of migration and integration, and I strongly believe that impactful research thrives on international and interdisciplinary collaborations. I look forward to exploring ways to work together," she noted.
Following the IPO meeting, Prof. Triandafyllidou participated in a project meeting with the Centre for Migration Studies, where researchers and faculty members, including Prof. Setrana, Dr. Thomas Yeboah, Dr. Frank Ayisi, and Rev. Francis W. Aubyn, discussed areas for deeper collaboration. The discussions centered on policy-driven projects, capacity-building initiatives, and the potential for co-authored research publications between UG scholars and their counterparts at TMU.
A key highlight of her visit was a public lecture on "Repositioning Migration Governance," where she examined contemporary migration challenges and the need for adaptive policy frameworks. Addressing faculty, students, and researchers, Prof. Triandafyllidou emphasized that migration governance must consider economic, social, and humanitarian factors to be effective in addressing both voluntary and forced migration.
She stressed that migration policies in Africa and across the globe must move beyond restriction-based approaches to ones that are human-centered and sustainable.
As part of her visit, Prof. Triandafyllidou toured the University of Ghana campus and met with the Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Joseph Awetori Yaro. Their discussions focused on the role of the humanities in migration research and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between migration studies and other academic disciplines.
Prof. Yaro welcomed the visit and highlighted UG’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for global research partnerships, particularly in areas that contribute to solving pressing societal challenges.
Prof. Triandafyllidou’s visit is expected to pave the way for stronger academic partnerships between UG and TMU, reinforcing UG’s position as a key player in migration studies and global research collaborations. With migration being a critical issue in Africa’s socio-economic landscape, these engagements mark an important step in shaping research that informs policy and practice.
Moving forward, UG and TMU are expected to explore joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and initiatives that contribute to a deeper understanding of migration dynamics in Africa and beyond.