Centre For European Studies Organizes Sensitization Workshop For Final Year Students

A group photograph of the Director for CES and EU Country Representatives

The Centre for European Studies (CES), University of Ghana, in collaboration with the Erasmus Mundus Students/Alumni Association and the EU-Delegation in Ghana has organized a half-day sensitization workshop on Postgraduate Educational Scholarship/Funding Opportunities in Europe for students. The event, which is part of the CES component of activities ear-marked by the College of Humanities towards the UG@70 celebrations, brought together over 400 final year students to discuss funding opportunities at the School of Law Auditorium.  The occasion afforded students interested in pursuing further studies in Europe, the opportunity to interact with representatives of EU-Member Countries in Ghana. The representatives were the Deputy Heads of Mission for German Embassy, Hans Helge-Sander; Hungary Embassy, Nike Szkarosi; Spanish Embassy, Maria Perez de Arminan, Danish Embassy, Peter Eilschow Olesen, Technical Adviser in charge of France-Ghana Higher Education, Sonia Couprie and the Acting EU Ambassador, Paolo Salvia.  In attendance also, were students who had benefitted from the Erasmus Mundus Funding Programme and other bilateral funding opportunities in Europe.  

In his welcome address, Professor Ransford Gyampo, Director of the Centre for European Studies, noted that even though many brilliant Ghanaian students especially from the University of Ghana continue to gain admission into schools in Europe, they are often confronted with lack of funding and inadequate information regarding how to source for and access funding.  The workshop, he said, was aimed at providing such information, especially to final year undergraduate students, interested in pursuing further studies. 

Prof. Ransford Gyampo, Director of CES delivering his welcome address

The Acting Head of the EU Delegation in Ghana, Paolo Salvia, commended the Centre for European Studies for the initiative. He noted that the event also commemorates 61 years of the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship grants to students across the globe.  He pledged his assistance in facilitating funding opportunities for University of Ghana students who wish to study in Europe.  Other Ambassadors present took turns to address the students on scholarship opportunities available in their respective countries and encouraged them to apply for support to facilitate their quest for further studies abroad.

In his presentation on scholarship opportunities in Europe, Mr. Konstantinos Maragkos, an alumnus and Country Representative of the Erasmus Mundus Programme in Ghana gave detailed explanation on the eligibility criteria as well as the procedures students are required to undertake in applying for the Erasmus Mundus Funding Programme and other bilateral scholarship opportunities in Europe. He highlighted some of the common mistakes that undermines the success of funding applications and how to avoid them. He urged the participants to read all instructions and guidelines carefully when applying for funding.

A Cross section of participants

The participants were grateful to the Centre for the platform to receive such vital information on funding opportunities in Europe and called for it to be institutionalize for subsequent final year students. In his closing remarks, Prof. Gyampo, thanked the EU-Ambassadors and EU-Delegation for their continuous support to CES and noted that through that platform, over 100 students gained scholarships to pursue further studies in the previous year. He expressed hope that participants would be adequately armed with required information to increase the success rates of their application for funding each year. He also expressed appreciation to students for their participation

 

PHOTO GALLERY

 

Participants enjoying the presentation during the workshop

Prof. Gyampo welcoming the Deputy Head of the Hungary Mission to the workshop

A student asking a question