The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has opened International Field School on Conflict Management and Transformation Studies (CONMAT) bringing together participants from six universities across Europe and Africa in a collaborative effort to strengthen capacity in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
The programme, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus Plus Capacity Building framework, aims to promote knowledge sharing, curriculum internationalization, and practical learning in conflict studies.
The director for international collaborations at the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Professor Millicent Awialia Akaateba underscored the importance of cross-continental academic collaboration in building sustainable peace.
In an interview at the ceremony, Prof. Akaateba explained that CONMAT is a project co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus Plus Capacity Building Programme. The initiative brings together a consortium of six universities across Europe and Africa to promote knowledge exchange and practical learning in conflict management.
The European partners include the University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna in Austria and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain. In Rwanda, the programme collaborates with the University of Rwanda and the Protestant University of Rwanda. Ghana is represented by the University of Ghana and the University for Business and Development Studies.
According to Prof. Akaateba, the selection of Ghana and Rwanda was deliberate. Ghana is widely regarded as a stable democratic state, while Rwanda continues to consolidate peace following its history of conflict.
She noted that the partnership creates space for mutual learning, knowledge co-creation, and shared strategies for managing and transforming conflict across diverse socio-political contexts.
Beyond classroom engagement, the programme integrates a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) component, enabling students from all six institutions to participate in joint virtual courses on conflict management strategies.
It also includes participatory video training, equipping students with skills to document conflict situations in dynamic, community-based settings.
The field school, she explained, represents a practical dimension of the project. Students will undertake educational visits to key governance and peace institutions, including the Peace Council, the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Wa Naa’s Palace, to observe indigenous and formal mechanisms of dispute resolution.
In Rwanda, participants are expected to visit war museums to gain historical insight into the consequences of violent conflict and post-conflict recovery processes.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emmanuel Derbile, described the programme as a strong example of global collaboration in addressing conflict through shared knowledge and collective responsibility.
He expressed gratitude to the European Union for funding the initiative under the Erasmus Plus framework and noted that the project aligns closely with UBIDS’ mandate as a young, practice-oriented university committed to applied research, innovation, and internationalization.
Professor Johannes Meark explained that the field school’s afternoon sessions are structured into two parallel tracks—one for faculty and one for students—designed to deepen both academic exchange and practical engagement in conflict studies.
He noted that professors from outside Ghana, particularly from Rwanda, are leading discussions with faculty members on conflict resolution, peace building, and case study analysis.
These themes, he said, are also taught to students in mixed groups comprising participants from the four African partner universities, alongside faculty from Austria and Spain.
Discover more from Kangyirifm.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
