The University for Development Studies (UDS) is exploring possibilities of partnering with the University of Michigan, African Presidential Scholars Programme (UMAPS) to support the development of its (UDS) faculties and students.
Under the initiative, UDS scholars and graduate students from all disciplines will be eligible to apply for sponsorship in the programmes to spend four to six months at the University of Michigan in the United States of America where they will have access to library and research materials.
This is to assist them to work on a research project, academic degree, new course, grant proposal, or other relevant activity.
To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will spell out the terms and conditions of the partnership, was being developed by both institutions to formalise the relationship.
Professor Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic, Director of International Relations of UDS said this in Tamale on Thursday when UDS hosted Professor Elisha Renne, from the Department of Anthropology / Afro-American and African Studies of the University of Michigan to discuss the programme.
The meeting, which was attended by the Directors of Graduate School, Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Studies, and Community Development of UDS, was also to discuss the objectives and on-going activities of the African Studies Center and concretise steps towards bringing UDS on board the UMAPS for the mutual benefits of both institutions.
Professor Kranjac-Berisavljevic said the programme would help PhD students of UDS to write publications as well as develop the faculties of the university (UDS).
She said the MoU would be such that both sides would have a mutually beneficial relationship where they could collaborate to design academic programmes.
Professor Renne mentioned some of the disciplines on the UMAPS, which included social, education, and medical programmes, adding that, “Those to be selected will be paired with University of Michigan faculty members for mentorship or collaboration on projects that will help them advance their careers.
Dr Kennedy Alatinga, a Lecturer at the Wa Campus of UDS, who benefited from UMAPS, said it was a useful experience and encouraged other faculty members to apply to benefit from it.
The UMAPS is designed to enhance collaboration between early career faculty from Ghana, Liberia, South Africa and Uganda and students at the University of Michigan.
