The University of Ghana through the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS) is hosting Prof. James C. Saku of the Frostburg State University, MD, USA, under the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP). Prof. Saku, who arrived at the university on 26th May 2023, will spend 45 days supporting IESS on two major assignments titled:
1. Curriculum Development at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, and
2. Collaborative research proposal writing.
Curriculum Development: Prof. Saku will support the IESS Committee tasked to develop new Ph.D. programs (Ph.D. Environmental Sanitation, and Ph.D. Sustainability Science) to complete their work. Specifically, he will collaborate with respective course instructors, in the development and evaluation of the structure and content of the following courses:
Sustainability Science Programme:
- ESSC 701 Epistemological Issues in Sustainability Science
- ESSC 702 Advances in Sustainability Assessment
- ESSC 703 Natural Capital and Biodiversity
- ESSC 704 Emerging Sustainability Issues
- ESSC 705 Human Ecology, Health, and Sustainable Development, and
- ESSC 706 Focus on Communities
Collaborative Project Proposal: IESS and other partners are presently putting together a research proposal for funding under the Global Center on Biodiversity and Climate programme. The proposal focuses on “Natural resource management and approaches resilient to climate change (including protecting and/or enhancing ecosystems services, water resource management, natural resource extraction and protecting and/or restoring habitats)”. IESS has engaged Prof. Saku to assist the faculty at the institute, to develop this proposal. The research proposal will follow the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, to ensure that the various themes (namely natural resource management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and community livelihood) and their inter-linkages are considered in a holistic manner. The project proposal will source funding from the ODA. When successful, the project would help sustain a lasting relationship between Prof. Saku, and IESS through collaborative research and publications for mutual benefit.
During his stay, Prof. Saku will work closely with Dr. Jesse S. Ayivor, who is the host of the Diaspora Fellow.
The Director of IESS and Faculty warmly welcome Prof. Saku to IESS and wish him a fruitful stay.
