Publications
Publications
- August 2024
- HBS Case Collection
Ashesi University: The Journey from Vision to Reality
By: Ranjay Gulati and Caroline de Lacvivier
Abstract
In 1997, Patrick Awuah had a dream: to bring liberal arts education to Ghana. Amid the country’s declining economy and pervasive corruption problems, Awuah saw education as an opportunity to reverse its fortunes by investing in the next generation of African leaders. Five years later, he and his team established Ashesi University, which differentiated itself from Ghana’s traditional educational model by remaining privately funded (and therefore independent from Ghana’s public school system), religiously unaffiliated, and – in service of its mission of developing future leaders – operative under an honor code that allowed students to take exams without supervision, an unprecedented practice in Ghana. This case follows Awuah’s efforts to establish and grow Ashesi University and provides insight into the role that leadership can play in operationalizing purpose, especially in entrepreneurial ventures.
Keywords
Developing Countries and Economies; Higher Education; Entrepreneurship; Leadership Development; Growth Management; Mission and Purpose; Private Ownership; Education Industry; Ghana
Citation
Gulati, Ranjay, and Caroline de Lacvivier. "Ashesi University: The Journey from Vision to Reality." Harvard Business School Case 425-032, August 2024.