Doctoral Research Programme in West African Climate Systems

Overview

Present global and regional climate models are incapable of representing or capturing the many local peculiarities that determine and shape the climate of West Africa. Furthermore, comprehensive solutions to climate change impacts are multi-dimensional and thus require a multi-disciplinary approach.

Meteorology and climate science education programmes exist only in a few West African countries, and even fewer numbers offer these courses at the Master and doctoral level. To strengthen the scientific capacity in the field of meteorology and climatology in West Arica, the Doctoral Programme on the West African Climate System (WACS), hosted by the Federal University of Technology in Akure, was founded.

Objectives

The Doctoral Programme on West African Climate System focuses on educating doctoral students in the fields of meteorology and climatology, providing theoretical and practical training needed for the task of developing effective and sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies to cope with the effects of climate change. The goal is to produce, through a multi-disciplinary approach, climate scientists with particular expertise regarding the West African climate system. Academic capital and potential of the region is to be developed to address the impacts of climate change and variability as they would impact vital economic sectors such as agriculture, weather forecasting services, water resources, transport industry, energy, the environment and natural disaster management efforts.

Curriculum

The full-time programme runs for 36 months, starting with a six-month period of course work during which students prepare their research proposals. Subsequently, students carry out their data collection and analyses during 25 months of research within the region or Germany. During the last five months, the programme is completed by writing up and defending the thesis.

For more information on the curriculum and modules download the WACS brochure.

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria

Besides the WASCAL Doctoral Programme on the West African Climate System, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, currently offers post-graduate and research programs in synoptic, dynamic and physical meteorology including numerical weather prediction. It is rated as the best university of technology in Nigeria and it is the only university in West Africa with full post-graduate programs recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).