The Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies at the University of Ghana’s College of Education has successfully launched the Africa-UniNet Workshop, aimed at expanding disaster response strategies on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the Pan-African Doctoral building.

The event seeks to move beyond traditional medical care, incorporating social and sports-based interventions to enhance recovery efforts in disaster and conflict scenarios.

The Africa-UniNet workshop emphasises a multidisciplinary approach to disaster and conflict response, integrating insights from medicine, sports, and social work.

This initiative, a collaboration between the University of Ghana, the University of Ouahigouya in Burkina Faso, and the Management Center Innsbruck in Austria, aims to strengthen the effectiveness of interventions in the aftermath of disasters and conflicts.

Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Provost of the College of Education, expressed his excitement about the involvement of students in the program, highlighting its potential to prepare them for real-world challenges across various disciplines.

"This program explores how to use sports to manage disasters, including climate change. We are looking forward to an exciting week,” he said.

"This collaboration with colleagues from Innsbruck, Austria, and Burkina Faso opens up opportunities for our students, including potential scholarships for their work."

The workshop, coordinated by Dr Bella Bello Bitugu from the Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies, focused on enhancing participants' skills through practical, research-based interventions.

He described the four-day workshop as a significant step forward in promoting a more holistic approach to disaster response.

"The Africa-UniNet Workshop happens once a year in the summer, sponsored by the Austrian Academic Service," he mentioned.

"We applied for the grant to explore how an integrative approach can address conflict and peace-building issues. The workshop will focus on combining medical, sports, and social work strategies to address peace, conflict, and development."

The event provided a platform for students, researchers, and practitioners to exchange ideas, network, and explore innovative methods for crisis response and recovery while contributing to long-term peacebuilding efforts.

The Africa-UniNet initiative aims to equip future professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage complex disaster and conflict situations using a combination of medical, social, and sports-based interventions.