Ashesi Univerisity: The Entrepreneurial story of the creation of a New University in Africa

Ethical LeadershipInnovative ThinkingA New Africa

The Ashesi Story

Founder: Patrick AwuahBackground

• Born and raised near Accra, Ghana

• Engineering at Swarthmore

• 7+ Years at Microsoft working on networking technologies

• Left Microsoft to attend UC Haas MBA program

• …and to build a business plan

What Patrick SawA skills gap

• Technical skills in many fields

• The need to think critically & creatively

• Leadership• Ethics

In a country where <5% go to college. College Graduates lead the country

• Great teams• Innovation

What Africa Needs

Ashesi’s mission

To educate a new

generation of ethical,

entrepreneurial leaders

in Africa.

Ashesi’s Business Plan: Customers

• Identified a gap in the market between families who sent students abroad and free local universities

• Started with market research with parents—would they pay?

• Talked to employers. Would they hire graduates?

Ashesi’s Plan: Value Proposition

• Liberal Arts Core:– Critical Thinking– Ethical Society

• Practical Majors: – Business– Computer Science

• Projects and Community Service• Career Services• Dedicated Faculty

Ashesi’s Plan: Business Model

• Initially: Raise money from US Donors for initial capital, build campus for 1200 or so students, begin classes. Move to sustainability from operations & tuition in 5 years

• Pivot: .com bust in US curtailed philanthropy from initial target. Curriculum gained accreditation; started classes in 2002 in rented buildings

To cultivate within our students

the critical thinking skills,

the concern for others, and the

courage it will take to transform

their continent.

Ashesi’s learning goals1. Ethics and civic engagement

2. Critical thinking and quantitative reasoning

3. Communication

4. Leadership and teamwork

5. Innovation and action

6. Curiosity and skill

7. Technological competence

How we do what we do

The Ashesi Way

• Consistently striving for deeper expertise

• Asking questions that broaden the conversation

• Embracing fresh thinking• Connecting with others in

our chosen fields• Proactively sharing skills

and knowledge with others

Scholarship Leadership Citizenship

• Helping colleagues be more successful

• Engaging talents, experiences and capabilities of others

• Communicating effectively

• Taking initiative and going beyond the call of duty

• Setting ambitious, yet attainable goals

• Being socially and environmentally conscious

• Recognizing long-term implications of decisions and actions

• Having fun• Being ethical• Leaving a lasting impact

on individuals, organizations and communities

Graduates aretouching millions of lives

Graduates are adding value to Ghana’s economy

We have come a long way!

600 students 530 alumni excellent track record a beautiful campus national and global recognition

LONG ROAD TO SUSTAINABILITY

Deficit financed for 7 years

Approximately $2 million in losses supported by donors since 2002. Not including losses incurred from 1999

(500,000)

(400,000)

(300,000)

(200,000)

(100,000)

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100,000

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Initial Plan vs. Current Path

1st Business Plan Current Path

Ashesi Economic Model

US Ashesi Foundation

Ashesi University College, Ghana

IndividualDonations Foundations

Grants for Capital Projects Scholarships

TuitionFinancial

AidLocal

Donations

Decision Checklist

• Mission

• Strategy

• Economic model

Ashesi’s second decade:People, programs, spaces

pan-African | International | Gender Balance

Brain Gain Fund | Scholarships | Collaborations |

Engineering at Ashesi• Electrical Engineering• Computer Engineering• Mechanical Engineering

Core Strengths• Design• Entrepreneurship• Real world experience

via monitored internships

Educate tinkerers who can create engineering solutions for local needs

Economics and Management• Quantitative analysis• Pipeline to top PhD programs in the world• Pipeline to Corporate Africa

Law and Society• Public sector leaders• Civic society leaders

Campus Master PlanOne hundred verdant acres with stunning views of Berekuso, Accra and Tema

Courtyard spaces that emphasize a sense of community.

A landscape of trees, benches and stairs that link courtyards and create places for pausing, meeting and gathering.

Architecture derived from the Ghanaian vernacular

Engineering at Ashesi

Academics at Ashesi

• Computer Science

• Business Administration

• Management Information Systems

Liberal Arts Core: social sciences, humanities, mathematics, African studies and leadership