It also coincided with the fifth anniversary of IEPA’s designa­tion as a UNESCO Category II Centre of Excellence which reinforces its position as a leading institution in educational planning and administration.

Being held on the theme, “IEPA@50: Innovating for Educational Impact and Excel­lence”, the anniversary would witness series of activities in­cluding ooutreach programmes to promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capaci­ty-building in education.

Other activities comprised an international conference, a commemorative book cataloging activities of the Institute, and a special edition of the Journal of Educational Management dedicated to issue featuring cut­ting-edge research and insights into educational leadership and innovation.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, stressed the importance of the Institute in the attainment of SDG Goal 4 and African Union Agenda 2063.

Both policies, he indicated, sought to provide quality edu­cation for all and well-educated citizens, and skills revolution under paper science, technology and innovation, respectively.

He commended IEPA for its transformative work in educa­tion and its strong partnership with governments in research, planning, and policy imple­mentation, noting that, the achievements reflect the vision of IEPA’s leadership, as well as their ongoing commitment to educational transformation in Ghana, Africa and beyond.

Prof. Aheto further said: “As we reflect on the incredible jour­ney of IEPA, permit me for us to also request that we recognise the tremendous impact it has made on shaping the field of educational planning and admin­istration, as well as leadership in our dear country.”

He called on the Institute to reimagine new technologies, methodologies and approaches to learning, leadership and poli­cy making.

Innovation in education, he explained, was not only about introducing new technologies or methodologies, but also about reimagining how the Institute approaches learning, leadership and policy making.

“We must foster an environ­ment where creativity thrives, where educators think outside the box, and where learners are equipped to succeed in a rapidly changing world,” he said.