This past March, a delegation from SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), led by President Dr. Wole Soboyejo, traveled to Ghana to strengthen international academic and research partnerships with local universities, as part of SUNY Poly’s bold “AI for All” initiative. The delegation included Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Tabiri Asumadu, AIX Center Co-Directors Dr. William Thistleton and Dr. Steven Schneider, International Admissions Counselor Willjavian Dawson, and Director of International Student Services Kevyn Hill.
The group visited four universities—Academic City University, the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and Sunyani Technical University—engaging in a week of conversations around research collaboration, joint teaching, and cross-cultural academic exchange. The visit represents a key milestone in envisioning SUNY Poly’s “AI for All” effort, a campus-wide initiative to make artificial intelligence accessible, ethical, and inclusive across disciplines and communities.
“These collaborations create powerful pathways for our students and faculty while contributing to a more equitable, connected world,” said Dr. Soboyejo. “Our shared commitment to innovation and inclusive AI opens doors for truly global impact.”
Dr. William Thistleton described the reception as enthusiastic and promising. “We were very warmly received. Faculty were engaged and students showed a deep curiosity about AI and how it might shape their careers. The four universities will be terrific academic partners for us.”
Thistleton also outlined several post-trip academic plans already underway, including the co-development of AI courses with Ghanaian faculty, the pursuit of funding to host a multi-university conference—potentially focused on AI in materials science—and the creation of programs enabling high school students in Ghana to conduct research with university mentors.
Dr. Steven Schneider emphasized the scale and energy of the visit, highlighting the depth of engagement at KNUST, with over 100,000 students and a strong focus on science and technology. At KNUST, SUNY Poly visited the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab (RAIL) and the Innovation Centre, hubs for collaborative AI research. “Visiting their labs made clear the common ground we share: having researchers and students developing projects using AI that have positive impact on people’s lives today,” said Schneider.
Dawson added a student-centered dimension to the trip, meeting prospective students, giving presentations, and connecting with more than a dozen international recruiting agents. “It was a valuable opportunity to introduce SUNY Poly to students across Ghana and to build relationships that will support international enrollment and exchange,” said Dawson.
The momentum has continued since the team returned to New York. Faculty from SUNY Poly and its Ghanaian partner institutions have been meeting regularly to advance joint projects. Ghanaian and Liberian collaborators have joined SUNY Poly’s AIX Workbench working groups, contributing to the development of a shared syllabus for “AI for All”. In addition, new opportunities are being developed to support AI skills training and project development for Ghanaian undergraduate students, beginning this fall.
This successful trip demonstrates SUNY Poly’s commitment to forging inclusive, globally-connected pathways in AI education and research. As the “AI for All” initiative expands, these international partnerships will play a vital role in ensuring that AI innovation reflects and serves the full diversity of the global community.
