UEW Scholars Champion Regional Development Through ASAF Project
Scholars from the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), under the auspices of the African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF), spearheaded the “Building Bridges 2025” professional development project in Sunyani.
The two-part event, held on Thursday, 25th June 2025, took place at the Tyco City Hotel and the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR). The theme of the event was “Fostering Inclusivity and Collaboration through ASAF Ghana’s Professional Development Approach for the Northern Zone.”
Prof. Peter Akayuure, Project Lead, underscored that the initiative represents a deliberate effort to expand ASAF’s impact in Northern Ghana, creating an inclusive professional network, enhancing European Union (EU) programme awareness and mentoring grassroots initiatives. “ASAF started as a small idea but has grown into a platform for capacity building and inclusivity,” he said.
Prof. Akayuure noted that this model of decentralised scholarly interaction fosters innovation, research synergy and social inclusion within underrepresented academic communities.
Highlighting the EU’s support for skills development in Africa, Mr. Anders Guettou Djurfeldt, Programme Officer for the EU Delegation in Ghana, outlined strategic initiatives under the €150 billion Africa-Europe Global Gateway Investment Package.
He spotlighted the EU-Ghana Pact for Skills, designed to boost employment through green and digital sector training and stressed the importance of aligning higher education with labour market needs, particularly through digital skills and inclusive education.
Mr. Jean-Michel Sers, policy officer of international partnerships at the European Commission, provided insight into Horizon Europe—a €93 billion research and innovation framework open to African institutions.
He detailed the Africa Initiative funding schemes and called for stronger collaborations between Ghanaian and EU research institutions. “Ghana is among the top five African countries participating in Horizon Europe, which shows great promise for academic partnerships,” he noted.
Prof. Ruby Hanson, a professor of chemistry at UEW, delivered a compelling session on developing leadership skills. She stressed visionary thinking, emotional intelligence, communication and mentorship as essential traits for impactful leadership.
“Leadership must be intentional and built on integrity, adaptability and a strategic outlook,” she said, urging students and young professionals to take initiative and embrace feedback.
As part of the opening session, two prominent scholars delivered insightful presentations tailored to the evolving academic and professional needs of participants.
Dr. Hillary Mireku Botey, a senior research scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), spoke extensively on research communication and stress management. He provided participants with tools to effectively articulate their research and manage mental health challenges in academia.
His presentation highlighted the link between mental resilience and research productivity, urging participants to adopt proactive self-care strategies to sustain scholarly excellence.
Dr. Philip Siaw Kissi, Coordinator for Research, Grant Sourcing and Proposal Development Unit at the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development, UEW, followed with an engaging presentation on "Project Management and Technology Skills." His session focused on equipping attendees with critical project planning, monitoring and digital tools necessary for executing impactful research and development initiatives. He emphasised the strategic application of digital tools in proposal writing, data management and collaborative research.
The second phase of the project transitioned to UENR, where a dynamic outreach engagement was held. Mr. Alexandre Zoumann, ASAF Liaison for Internal Affairs, took participants through EU scholarship opportunities and a practical guide to applying. His session was highly interactive, demystifying common challenges applicants face in navigating European higher education funding mechanisms.
Ms. Marieme Wade, ASAF Co-Ambassador in Senegal, introduced participants to the ASAF network, elaborating on its benefits, including capacity building, global exposure and mentorship opportunities. She encouraged Ghanaian youth to take full advantage of ASAF’s platforms for networking and professional development.
Dr. Ismaila Emahi, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Sciences, UENR, addressed participants on "Clean Water and Sanitation,” spotlighting the critical links between sustainable water management and public health. He drew attention to local research gaps and called on young scholars to embrace community-oriented innovations.
Ms. Jemilatu Aryee, Technical Advisor at GIZ, gave an extensive presentation on "GIZ Projects, Grants and Scholarships." She outlined current GIZ programmes in Ghana and explained how students, researchers and institutions can access funding and training opportunities.
The “Building Bridges 2025” project not only solidified UEW’s role in driving research, leadership and continental collaboration but also exemplified ASAF’s mission to empower African students and alumni to become change agents across academic and development landscapes.
