The courses will last until June 4. The 69 francophone students are located in Kumasi, Ghana, to improve their English skills, while 31 English speaking students are in Lomé, Togo, for intensive French language courses. In parallel, both are taught the basics in Statistics and Geostatistics, Remote Sensing/GIS, Climate Systems, Climate Change Impacts, and Research Methodology in two-week modules.
Despite the tight schedule (usually from 8am to
6pm in Kumasi, and from 7am to 4.30pm in Lomé), the lecturers emphasized
the students’ motivation and eagerness to learn about climate change.
Besides the scientific training, the students can benefit from working
together, which can have positive effects in terms of network building
for their future career, one lecturer said.
The students also expressed their determination
to successfully complete the program. They said the program was
increasing their awareness of the importance of climate change and their
willingness to contribute to their respective country’s future
development with regard to climate change.
After their joint courses in Kumasi and Lomé,
the Graduate students will be go to the WASCAL Competence Center in
Ouagadougou for another week of training with the Competence Center
staff and for attending a lecture on WASCAL Data Management. In mid-June
all students will then go back to their respective Lead University for
an intensive course program focused on the particular research area of
their Graduate School. After finishing this course program the students
will submit their final research proposal for their master’s and
doctoral theses.
Niclas Hallmann
