The University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) has strengthened its international academic footprint by hosting a three-day International Field School on Conflict Management and Transformation Studies in Wa.
The programme formed part of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) initiative, a multilateral partnership framework designed to modernise and enhance higher education systems through collaboration between European Union member states and partner countries.
Held under the project title “Strengthening Conflict Management and Transformation Studies in Africa (CONMAT),” the Field School convened 40 academics and students from institutions across Africa and Europe. Participating universities included the University of Rwanda, the Protestant University of Rwanda, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the University of Applied Sciences Vienna, and the University of Ghana.
According to a statement signed by Dr Fidelis Z. Tang, Director of University Relations at UBIDS, the initiative aligns with the university’s strategic internationalisation agenda and its commitment to advancing peacebuilding research and education in Africa.
The Field School combined theory with practice, structuring academic sessions into two thematic areas. One cluster examined teaching and research methodologies in conflict studies, while the other focused on applied conflict resolution and peacebuilding strategies.
As part of experiential learning, participants engaged with the Upper West Regional Peace Council and the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs to explore institutional and traditional approaches to managing conflicts. They also visited the Wa Naa’s Palace to gain insight into customary governance systems and indigenous peacebuilding mechanisms outside formal judicial structures.
UBIDS described the programme as a demonstration of its dedication to capacity building, international collaboration, and development-oriented scholarship. The initiative further consolidates the university’s ambition to position itself as a hub for innovative teaching, impactful research, and community engagement.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to transformative education and strategic global partnerships. Meanwhile, Professor Dr Johannes Maerk of the University of Applied Sciences Vienna, the project consortium lead, underscored the value of North-South academic collaboration in strengthening institutional capacity and advancing conflict transformation studies.
