UEW, Engineers Without Borders Sign MoU to Advance Assistive Technology
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Engineers Without Borders, Israel (EWB-IL), to advance assistive technology, promote inclusive education and improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
The agreement, signed on Monday, 19th October 2026, at the Council Chamber of UEW, supports efforts to establish an Assistive Technology and Accessibility Project in Winneba. The signing took place during the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ghana, H.E. Roey Gilada’s courtesy call on the University’s Management.
Under the agreement, the University’s Department of Special Education will collaborate with EWB-IL to establish an Innovation Hub or Makerspace for researching, designing and producing assistive technologies. The initiative will provide students with practical training in designing and prototyping solutions to address accessibility challenges in schools, homes and public spaces.
Speaking at the meeting, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, the Vice-Chancellor of UEW, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the initiative, emphasising that higher education institutions have the responsibility to improve lives through practical solutions to societal challenges. “If what we do here cannot make the lives of our citizens better, then we have already failed,” he said, describing the project as an opportunity to support underserved communities.
Prof. Mitchual assured the project Ambassador of the University’s readiness to provide the necessary support to ensure the successful implementation. He expressed confidence that the partnership would strengthen the existing relationship between UEW and Israel.
For its part, EWB-IL will provide technical expertise, training and mentorship, support workshops and student delegations, and contribute tools, materials and technical guidance for developing assistive technologies. UEW will provide space for the Innovation Hub, facilitate student participation and supervision and coordinate engagement with local schools and community institutions.
The project will also promote year-round collaboration involving students, faculty, visiting professionals and community stakeholders through workshops, internships, research and development activities, and the dissemination of knowledge on assistive solutions.
H.E. Roey Gilad said the partnership sought to renew earlier collaborative efforts through a framework that places greater emphasis on innovation and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
He noted that the initiative would bring together several institutions and partners to develop practical solutions for children with special needs and the wider Winneba community.
The Ambassador expressed confidence that the commitment of UEW and its partners would produce meaningful outcomes for the community and strengthen bilateral relations between Ghana and Israel.
The MoU establishes a framework for sustained cooperation between UEW’s Department of Special Education and EWB-IL, with a shared focus on developing contextually relevant, accessible and sustainable solutions to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
