Prof. Ransford Gyampo, CES Director and Ambassador William Hanna, Head of EU
The Director for the Centre for European Studies, Professor Ransford Gyampo, and the Head of the European Union in Ghana, Ambassador William Hanna, as well as other EU officials and Erasmus Mundus alumni took turns to sensitize the students on the educational programme and the various avenues and opportunities available to them. The educational and sensitization seminar was targeted at students who want to undertake internships and further education (with full scholarships) in Europe.
Professor Ransford Gyampo, Director Centre for European Studies interacting with Students during the Seminar
The Director of the Centre for European Studies, Professor Gyampo, introduced the programme to the students, stressing on its relevance and the need for students to take advantage of and participate in it. Professor Gyampo noted that the programme would enable students gain the needed experience through internships and enjoy the benefits of fully funded graduate and post graduate educational opportunities in Europe. He assured students and the university community of other fruitful collaborations with the EU and European countries for the benefit of students. He added that beginning from 2017, the Centre for European Studies would commission and also undertake interdisciplinary research on various aspects of European studies. Key findings of such research according to him, would be presented in roundtable discussions and later published. He further assured participants of the Centre’s commitment to provide holistic education through interdisciplinary research to broaden the horizon of both students and faculty.
A Section of the Students/Participants
Ambassador William Hanna, explaining the Erasmus+ programme observed that it aims at contributing to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU's strategic framework for education and training. Specifically, “it will help tackle issues such as the reduction in unemployment, especially among young people, the promotion of adult learning, especially for new skills and skills required by the labour market, encouraging young people to take part in European democracy, supporting innovation, cooperation and reform, reducing early school leaving and promoting cooperation and mobility with the EU's partner countries", he stated.
Ambassador Hanna noted that more than 20 Ghanaian students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast. participated in the Erasmus+ programme last year which took them to European countries such as Norway, Spain, Italy and France.
Ambassador William Hanna, Head of the EU Delegation in Ghana
Almost EUR 16.5 billion, he said has been earmarked to cover the programme as a whole for the period 2014-2020. This will be used to support 350 new Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, 30,000 scholarships for Joint Master Degree students and staff (minimum 75% for individuals from Partner Countries), 130,000 credit mobility scholarships for individuals to move between higher education institutions in Partner Countries and Programme Countries, 1000 capacity-building projects for higher education and 2000 Jean Monnet projects. He said for over 25 years, Europe has funded the Erasmus programme, which has enabled over 3 million European students to spend part of their studies in another higher education institution elsewhere in Europe. Erasmus+ now opens up these opportunities to individuals and organisations from other parts of the world.
Mr. Filippo Bocchini from the European Union Delegation briefly explained the new call for proposal and how to apply for the programme.
Mr. Lutuf Abdul-Rahman, a former student of the University of Development Studies at Tamale in the Northern Region, Erasmus+ alumni who studied at the University of Amsterdam, shared his experience with the students and staff.
Erasmus+ is the European Union (EU) programme which supports projects, partnerships, events and mobility in the areas of education, training, youth and sport. The Erasmus+ programme is managed by the European Commission (the EU's executive body), the Education, Audio-visual, and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), a series of National Agencies in Programme countries, and a series of National Offices in some partner countries.
Mr. Lutuf Addul-Rahman, a beneficiary of the Erasmus+Scholarship shares his experiences with students
Mr. Filippo Bocchini from the European Union responded to questions from students
