Equity in education
Philip Cotton (BSc 1984) is Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and was awarded an OBE for services to higher education in Rwanda in 2017. He is also a Methodist preacher, founder of a fair-trade organisation and serves as a trustee and advisor to groups including St Andrew’s Clinics for Children. He shares his St Andrews story and describes the importance of fair access to a high-quality education in Africa.
My vicar in south London was from Scotland and was an advocate for the University of St Andrews. It was therefore thanks to him that after finishing school and teaching English in Nepal for a period I moved to St Andrews in 1980 to study anatomy.
I spent six years at St Andrews – four completing my science degree and two studying pre-clinical medicine. I was then selected as one of a small group of students by Sir Kenneth Calman, former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, to enter the third year of medicine at the University of Glasgow.
While at St Andrews I was president of the Student Voluntary Service (SVS) and I have fond memories of hosting a holiday one summer for people living at the Murray Royal Hospital in Perth. They stayed in the flats at the old Gatty and, with the help of the St Andrews Citizen, I arranged to host the patients for afternoon tea at family homes in St Andrews.
As a student I lived in Crail’s Lane, off Market Street, and I had an amazing group of friends who passed through my flat there. Some of my closest friends today are from my time at St Andrews – one former flatmate recently visited me in Rwanda where I live now. One of my fondest memories is of my research supervisor, Dr Cynthia Reid, who has remained a life-long friend and who I visited in South Africa.
I held a few part-time jobs as a student, including working at a restaurant called Brambles (formerly on College Street) and as a care assistant looking after people who lived in the town and had limited social interaction, but who all had the most incredible stories to tell.
Glasgow and general practice
Upon then graduating from Glasgow, I trained in general practice there and started work with Professor Frank Sullivan (of the University of St Andrews School of Medicine) in clinical practice, and with Professor Jill Morrison and Professor Graham Watt in general practice and primary care.
While in Glasgow, I became increasingly fascinated by medical education and worked on several panels and groups involved with delivering high-quality education. There were many students who made an impact on me but one in particular caused me to think differently about education. That student was Emeli Sandé, who left medicine to become an internationally renowned singer and songwriter. During the course of her journey from medicine to music, she taught me so much about passion and purpose.
In 2006 I travelled to Rwanda as part of a delegation to review the work in the National University there. I made several visits before being asked in 2013 to join the newly formed University of Rwanda (UR). Initially I was Principal in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and latterly became Vice Chancellor.
I was fortunate – thanks to Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Regius Chair of Medicine and Chief Scientist to the Scottish Government, and Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor – to be granted an extended leave of absence from my position at the University of Glasgow, which gave me security and a place to return to.
A new home in Rwanda
My tenure at UR complete, I went on to work with the visionary Scholars’ Program at Mastercard Foundation. By this time, I had become a Rwandan citizen, and I had fallen in love with this remarkable country that had become my home.
I was approached by the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE). Founded by the late Dr Paul Farmer and the international organisation Partners in Health, UGHE trains a new generation of doctors and policymakers, predominantly from Africa, who are equipped to transform the lives of those without ready access to quality care.
It has been a great honour to serve as Vice Chancellor for two renowned institutions, both of which are in the Times Higher Education’s top ten universities in Africa: UGHE is ranked fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa and the University of Rwanda is ranked sixth. These experiences have given me a profound appreciation for the transformative power of education, particularly in the field of healthcare.
Investment and innovation
What sets UGHE (a small, single-campus private institution) and UR (a large, multi-campus public institution) apart is their shared commitment to ensuring equitable access to quality education. They embody Rwanda’s great investment in education as a foundation for national development. This progress reflects visionary leadership, collaborative efforts, and a deep recognition of education’s role in fostering innovation and resilience.
UGHE has a strong focus on global healthcare and its mission is to train leaders who can address the most pressing global health challenges by combining rigorous academic programmes with practical experience.
Unlike many other medical schools, UGHE provides tuition-free medical education. This commitment to accessibility and equity ensures talented students from diverse backgrounds can access world-class education and then contribute to improving health outcomes.
Together, UGHE and UR showcase Rwanda’s commitment to becoming a hub for innovative and high-quality education in Africa.
The secret to success is the drive of the learners – harnessing the collective aspiration of young people has the most dramatic impact on the status of the institutions.
The transformative power of education
It’s an exciting time for UGHE. The university is on track to admit 100 students to medicine each year, and we commit to 70% of places going to female scholars. There is no cost – tuition, board and lodgings are covered.
Our masters programme in Global Health Delivery is on track to become one of the most sought-after courses for anyone wishing to study international public health and policy, and in 2026 the first cohort of medics will graduate, supporting Rwanda’s strategy to quadruple the number of healthcare workers in the country within four years. As the university enters its next chapter, I am optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead and I am committed to contributing to the transformative power of education and healthcare, ensuring they remain engines for social justice and global progress.
For those considering a similar path in education – medical or otherwise – my advice would be to place the needs and aspirations of students at the heart of your priorities. Stay committed to the belief that access to quality education should not be a privilege, but a right for all.
Continued connections
I was fortunate to make the acquaintance of Edward and Wanda Howell while at St Andrews. From their home in the town, they kept tabs on many students, regularly inviting them to dinner and afternoon tea. Edward’s inspiring autobiography Escape to live remains with me – encouraging resolve, belief and a commitment to complete the journey.
My sense of connection to St Andrews remains strong and I was fortunate to be able to return to the University with the Minister of Education from Rwanda in recent years. We were hosted so warmly by the Principal, Professor Dame Sally Mapstone and her team.
Perhaps a summer holiday in St Andrews – and trip down memory lane – will be next on the cards.
Your passion for equitable education shines through here Philip. I’m sure that you have served as inspiration to many, as you have been inspired by the figures in your life.