DAAD annual collaboration workshop 2022 held, students, alumni urged to support programme continuity

DAAD annual collaboration workshop 2022 participants

The 2022 edition of the annual collaboration workshop of the Ghanaian-German Centre for Development Studies (DAAD) has been held. The event gathered DAAD programme collaborators, students and alumni, and some University of Ghana (UG) officials, including Prof. Eric. Osei-Assibey, Dean of International Programmes, who delivered the keynote address.

Prof. Osei-Assibey extended thanks and congratulations to the DAAD for being at the forefront of the funding and promotion of international higher education scholarship, describing it as “the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers.”

Speaking on the theme of Higher education internationalisation strategy, he underlined the important contribution of DAAD support, and that of other European Union countries, in contributing to building capacity in African universities and allowing for productive academic connections between African and European universities.

Earlier in a welcome address, Director, Prof. Peter announced that the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) has been selected to host the DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme. Under the programme, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)-funded scholarships will be granted to individuals who plan to pursue a Ph.D. in Development Studies at ISSER.

Prof. Quartey expressed his joy at the positive outcome of the selection process and the opportunity it gives ISSER to train additional PhDs for Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa. He urged DAAD alumni to support the continuity of the programme, saying, “Think of what you can also do to make this programme sustainable.”

He revealed that ISSER is undertaking a tracer study to garner information on the post-training experiences, successes, and challenges of alumni with the ultimate aim of improving the DAAD-ISSER programme and its offerings.

Prof. Robert Darko Osei, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies welcomed the news of additional funding with joy and called on students to make the most of the opportunity.

“You should be here [ISSER, UG] to acquire knowledge, not a certificate. You need to apply yourself extensively, “he said.

Dr. Ama Fenny, Ph.D. Programme Coordinator shared an update on the programme since its inception to date. She called on alumni to participate in the tracer study and support the Institute’s efforts to improve the programme.

Other speakers at the plenary were Dr. Wolfram Laube, ZEF, University of Bonn, and Mr. Felix Barnes, DAAD Information Centre, Accra.

For the discussion session, participants split into three separate groups of supervisors and lecturers, alumni, and students to share ideas and lessons on pertinent areas of the programme. The conclusions of these discussions constitute key lessons that will help shape and propel the DAAD-ISSER collaboration toward a strong future.

The annual workshop brings together programme collaborators, Ph.D. supervisors and lecturers, students, and alumni to evaluate the DAAD programme, exchange ideas, and plan for the future. The 2022 workshop was held on November 10, 2020, at the ISSER Conference Centre.