A collaborative effort between the Office of International Relations at UCC, the European Union (EU-Ghana), Campus France (Ghana), and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD-Ghana) brought forth a programme aimed at enlightening students and staff of universities in the Central Region about various study and mobility prospects.
Part of an extensive tour of five universities in Ghana, the roadshow focused on raising awareness about the European Union’s study and mobility opportunities available to Ghanaian university students and staff, providing detailed insights into the application procedures.
Consequently, the University of Cape Coast was chosen as the host venue for the roadshow within the Central Region.
Martha Brignone, the Programme Officer in Charge of Education and Employment at the EU Delegation to Ghana, emphasized the significance of fostering collaboration and partnerships between Ghanaian and European universities.
She highlighted the EU’s commitment to ongoing and new programmes encouraging Ghanaian universities to propose partnerships.
“We believe that many of our programmes are programmes for collaboration, partnership between universities for mobility of staff or students. So, we felt the need to engage more with the universities directly. So, we started with five universities this year. And we are going to continue making this a regular practice to be sure that information is available.”
With an allocated budget for novel initiatives in Africa, she said the EU aims to facilitate student and staff mobility, secondary education, and TVET programs.
“The European Union – Ghana Impact for Skills is a programme with a total budget of 17. Million euro that has been launched this year… We are going to select six universities in the countries with a call for proposals. And the idea is to partner with these six universities to pilot some new MBA that will bring together Ghanaian universities and European universities.…” she continued.
Martha Brignone emphasized that currently, universities can submit proposals to participate in this mobility initiative adding Ghanaian universities have submitted a proposal to the Erasmus team, and if selected, they will receive a grant.
Also, if chosen, students and staff from the participating universities will partake in the mobility program.
While sharing his observations, Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi Kusi, Dean of the Office of International Relations at UCC, expressed satisfaction with the attendee turnout.
He urged students and staff to capitalize on the available opportunities by visiting the respective websites for further details.
The Office of International Relations, in collaboration with the EU, organized the program due to the observed lack of information accessibility. They aimed to make use of available opportunities, including increased funding and numerous scholarships and mobility grants within the EU.
“Our commitment to providing and promoting such chances for everyone associated with the university remains unwavering, as we aspire to continually enhance the university’s standing,” he added.
The roadshow welcomed students from various institutions, including the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Technical University, and University of Education Winneba, along with alumni and staff who have successfully pursued studies in Europe through scholarships.
Several students voiced their enthusiasm for the roadshow, highlighting the valuable insights gained and the potential benefits for their future academic pursuits.
One student expressed, ‘I previously lacked information on studying in Europe. Attending the program broadened my understanding, particularly about the variety of available scholarships and funding opportunities, such as the Erasmus Mundus. As a postgraduate student, I aspired to learn from alumni experiences and understand the scholarship application process, which has proven highly beneficial.’
This sentiment resonated with many attendees, affirming the program’s effectiveness in providing essential knowledge and guidance for those considering educational opportunities in Europe.
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Source: Flora Tang/ATLFMNEWS
