The Dean of The UDS School of Business, Prof. Ibrahim Osman Adam Among 30 African Leaders Selected for Elite Higher Education Leadership Programme
The Dean of the School of Business at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Prof. Ibrahim Osman Adam, has earned international recognition after being selected for the 2025–2026 cohort of the prestigious DIES International Deans’ Course Africa, a highly competitive leadership development programme hosted in Germany.
Prof. Adam is one of only 30 newly appointed deans, vice-deans, and department heads chosen from universities across the African continent to participate in this elite course. His selection is a testament to his outstanding leadership qualities and the growing prominence of UDS within global higher education circles.
The year-long programme is jointly organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, and the Centre for Higher Education (CHE), with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Spanning three intensive phases, the course is designed to strengthen the managerial and strategic capacities of academic leaders in African universities. Key focus areas include:
- Strategic faculty and institutional management
- Financial governance and sustainability
- Quality assurance and enhancement systems
- Leadership amid changing educational landscapes
- Fostering international cooperation and partnerships
A cornerstone of the programme is the development and implementation of a Project Action Plan (PAP), which each participant will roll out at their home institution under expert guidance and peer review.
The course also features mentorship from seasoned regional experts including Prof. Dr. Abebe Dinku (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia), Prof. Dr. Bassey Antia (University of the Western Cape, South Africa), Prof. Dr. Christine Onyango (Taita Taveta University, Kenya), and Prof. Dr. Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah (University of Cape Coast, Ghana).
Prof. Adam’s inclusion in the programme reinforces UDS’s commitment to educational excellence and innovative leadership. His participation is expected to foster strategic improvements within UDS and enrich higher education administration across Ghana and the wider continent.
Notably, the final phase of the programme will be hosted in Ghana, providing a platform for African academic leaders to collaborate, exchange best practices, and initiate transformative initiatives in university governance.
With this selection, Prof. Adam and UDS join the ranks of institutions shaping the future of higher education in Africa, strengthening academic leadership, institutional resilience, and global engagement.
