The City University of Macau has appointed Ghanaian entrepreneur and international business executive Dr. Jerry Darwin as its official Representative for Ghana and the entire African region. This move is aimed at strengthening academic cooperation and boosting student enrolment from the continent.
Under the appointment, Dr. Darwin will serve as the university’s key liaison across Africa, tasked with promoting the institution, building partnerships with educational stakeholders, and encouraging qualified African students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the City University of Macau.
In his new role, Dr. Darwin will lead efforts to increase awareness of the university’s academic programs while facilitating the application and admission process for African students. His responsibilities include representing the university in Ghana and across Africa, promoting the institution through educational outreach and partnerships, assisting prospective students with application and admission procedures and strengthening enrolment and academic exchange between Africa and Macau.
Founded in 1981 and renamed in 2011, the City University of Macau is a comprehensive higher education institution offering dozens of degree programs across fields such as business, finance, tourism, law, humanities, education, and design. The university currently has about 6,000 students, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral candidates.
Dr. Darwin’s appointment comes at a time when academic exchanges between Africa and China are expanding rapidly. According to global higher-education data, over 81,000 African students were studying in Chinese universities by 2018, representing about 16.5% of all international students in China.
The number of African students choosing China for higher education has grown significantly over the past decade due to scholarships, competitive tuition fees, and expanding economic ties between China and Africa.
Ghana has emerged as one of the leading African countries sending students to China. Estimates indicate that about 6,500 Ghanaian students are currently studying in Chinese universities, making Ghana the second-largest African source of students in China.
Education experts say this growing academic exchange plays a key role in strengthening people-to-people relations and building technical and professional capacity across the African continent.
Dr. Darwin brings extensive leadership experience in international business development, education advocacy, and cross-border partnerships. Known for his work in corporate management and international trade, he has built strong networks across Africa and Asia.
His background in entrepreneurship, combined with his passion for education and youth development, positions him uniquely to connect African students with global academic opportunities. Dr. Darwin, who is very fluent in Mandarin, has facilitated the establishment of several Chinese industries in Ghana over the years.
Industry observers note that his ability to bridge business, education, and international relations makes him well suited to lead the university’s expansion efforts across the African continent.
Through his appointment, Dr. Darwin is expected to spearhead recruitment campaigns, educational fairs, and institutional partnerships across Africa. These initiatives will provide African students with greater access to internationally recognized academic programs, research opportunities, and scholarship schemes.
Education analysts believe such initiatives will further strengthen Africa-Asia academic cooperation while equipping African students with skills needed to contribute to economic and technological development back home.
With Africa’s youth population projected to become the largest in the world by 2050, expanding global education pathways remains a strategic priority for universities seeking to engage the next generation of leaders.
Dr. Darwin’s appointment therefore signals a new phase of collaboration between Africa and the City University of Macau, aimed at widening educational opportunities and building stronger academic bridges between the two regions.
Article By D. Deladem Kisseih
