The Research and Innovation Directorate (RID) on Monday, 30 March 2026, hosted a delegation from Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania, as part of a knowledge exchange programme aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the two universities.
The visiting delegation comprised Prof. Natalja Istomina, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Public Governance and Business, and Ms. Greta Zambžickaitė, Advisor to the Dean for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation. The University of Ghana (UG) was represented by Prof. David Dodoo-Arhin, Director (RID), and Prof. Nancy O. Quashie, Deputy Director..
The engagement provided an opportunity for both institutions to share experiences, explore areas of mutual interest, and discuss practical pathways for future collaboration in research, innovation, training, and academic exchange.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Dodoo-Arhin gave an overview of the UG’s history, structure, and research agenda, highlighting the University’s commitment to collaborative research, knowledge generation, and innovation. He also showcased some of UG’s flagship research and innovation initiatives, including its World Bank Centres of Excellence and innovation support structures such as the Kofi Annan Enterprise Hub for Agricultural Innovation (KAEHAI), the Innovation Enclave, and the MakerSpace.
He explained that while the University of Ghana continues to invest strongly in science, technology, and innovation, it remains deeply committed to a people-centred approach to teaching, research, and development. He further outlined the University’s research strategy, which seeks to enhance the University’s global impact through collaborative research, strategic partnerships, knowledge generation, and dissemination.
Prof. Dodoo-Arhin underscored the University’s strong interest in Africa-Europe partnerships, particularly within the framework of research and innovation cooperation. He noted that the UG remains open to a broad range of collaborative opportunities, including joint research projects, staff and student exchanges, summer schools, joint Master’s and PhD programmes, and capacity-building initiatives.
Speaking on behalf of Mykolas Romeris University, Prof. Natalja Istomina commended the University of Ghana for its multidisciplinary orientation and broad academic scope. She noted that the future of research increasingly requires institutions to work across disciplines and respond to complex societal challenges through collaborative approaches.
She explained that Mykolas Romeris University is a social sciences-focused institution with academic strengths in political science, economics, psychology, management, and related fields. She further noted that the university’s research priorities include migration, the social and health needs of immigrants, and mental health models for war victims. Although the institution has traditionally focused on the social sciences, she indicated that it is actively broadening its research and innovation footprint, with sixteen research laboratories currently in operation.
Prof. Istomina also disclosed plans by Mykolas Romeris University to establish Centres of Excellence in policy-making, communication sciences, and law, while strengthening partnerships with health institutions as well as local and international industry actors.
The discussions ended with both institutions expressing strong interest in building a meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership. As a concrete next step, the two universities agreed to develop a work plan to guide their collaboration and identify priority areas for engagement.
The visit marks an important step towards strengthening academic and research ties between the University of Ghana and Mykolas Romeris University.
