Winter & Summer Schools

KNUST-ETH Global Development Summer School

The summer school will not take place in 2025.

Students from KNUST and ETH during the Summer School 2022

The Global Development Summer School is a collaboration between ETH for Development (ETH4D) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana. It provides students and young researchers the opportunity to develop and test solutions for real-world challenges. Students will work in interdisciplinary and multi-national teams. In addition to acquiring theoretical knowledge, a premium is placed on real-life implementation and case studies. The Global Development Summer School is a Science in Perspective course, and open to Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students from KNUST and ETH Zurich as well as recent graduates of these universities (up to 5 years since graduation).

Please find below the schedule of the Summer School 2023 at KNUST in Ghana.

Download Summer School Schedule 2023 (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Summer School 2023: Rethinking Mobility - Sustainable Transport Management

Programme Date: 30 August – 16 September 2023

Location: KNUST Campus, Kumasi, Ghana.
Go on a external page virtual tour of the KNUST Campus.

This year's Summer School will focus on the topic of sustainable mobility management in a global context. Through a series of lectures, discussions with experts, site visits, community engagement and design thinking exercises, you will have the opportunity to develop and test your creative solutions to identified mobility challenges while working with like-minded students, researchers and practitioners from Ghana and Switzerland who are at the forefront of developing and implementing global mobility solutions.

Curriculum

The programme is built upon four main foundations. A Series of Lectures establishes the theoretical framework of the programme. The Knowledge Fair puts the students in touch with some of the most forward-thinking researchers and practitioners in Ghana and Switzerland for valuable inputs to challenge and further develop their ideas. Fieldwork and Site Visits give students an opportunity to engage directly with local activists, start-ups and mobility networks and systems managers in the Kumasi metropolitan area, using the city as living laboratories for study. The Prototyping Workshops follow the design thinking process at the core of the programme and hone fundamental fabrication skills, empowering students to craft their own design solutions. Working in interdisciplinary and multicultural teams, students develop a project from design conception to prototyping, and present the concept note and final results of their work consecutively at the beginning and end of the programme to their peers, experts and guest judges.


Why should I join?

  • Identify and explore the major discussions around sustainable global mobility management and circular economy
  • Acquire methodological competence as you develop a project that spans from concept to prototype
  • Develop interdisciplinary and multicultural competences as you experience how to work effectively in teams
  • Connect with a global network of highly motivated students, faculty and practioners
  • Earn 3-ECTS points
  • Have fun with new faces

Please note:

  • Applications are competitive 
  • Participation is limited  

Join as a Participant

The Global Development Summer School “Sustainable Mobility” is aimed at Bachelor, Master and Doctoral students of KNUST, Ghana, and ETH Zurich as well as recent graduates of these universities (up to 5 years since graduation) from all backgrounds and disciplines. No prior experience in mobility is necessary. Applicants will be evaluated on their academic strength, creativity, technical-related expertise, and dedication to contribute to solving the world's most pressing challenges.

Application Requirements for Participants

  • Currently enrolled as Bachelor, Master or Doctoral student of KNUST, Ghana, or Swiss universities or a recent graduate of these universities (up to 5 years since graduation).
  • Completed external page participant application form
  • Statement of motivation detailing how you can contribute to solving pressing mobility challenges
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • High resolution passport size photograph (in PNG, JPEG, JPG format only)
  • Personal profile in a maximum of 100 words providing the following information:
    1) your name, programme of study and university
    2) why you think the topic of “Sustainable Mobility” is relevant now
    3) what you expect to take home from the interdisciplinary and intercultural process of this summer school

Still have questions? Please .

Join as a Tutor

Tutors oversee the fast-paced process of one student team from the development of ideas to the presentation of results. Through targeted intervention and moderation, tutors assist the participants to build on each other’s skills and expertise. The tutor role is key to the success of each team and of the whole programme.

Application Requirements for Tutors

  • Currently enrolled as Master or Doctoral student of KNUST, Ghana, or ETH Zurich or a recent graduate of these universities (up to 5 years since graduation).
  • Completed external page tutor application form
  • Statement of motivation
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • High resolution passport size photograph (in PNG, JPEG, JPG format only)
  • Personal profile in a maximum of 100 words providing the following information:
    1) your name, programme of study and university
    2) how you can contribute to the programme
    3) what you expect to take home from the interdisciplinary and intercultural process of this summer school

Still have questions? Please
 

Applications are closed.

Tutor Training

Date: 24 – 29 August 2023
Location: KNUST Campus, Kumasi, Ghana

Summer School

Date: 30 August – 16 September 2023
Location: KNUST Campus, Kumasi, Ghana

Students of ETH Zurich will be awarded 3 ECTS Science in Perspective (SiP) credit points upon successful completion of the programme. To do so you must subscribe to the course 851-0655-00L for Spring Semester 2023 on myStudies. Students from other institutions will be responsible for organising the transfer of credit points.

Fees

Selected applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable participation fee of 950 CHF. Applicants will also be responsible for their visa, vaccination, and travel medication costs, all of which are estimated between 180 CHF - 250 CHF depending on their individual cases and preferences. The programme will cover the costs of return travel, accommodation, full board meals, travel to excursion sites, and other scheduled activities during the programme.

Participation is free for tutors. Selected candidates will be responsible for their visa, vaccination, and travel medication costs, all of which are estimated between 180 CHF - 250 CHF depending on their individual cases and preferences.

We'll travel together to Ghana on a group ticket on 22 August for the tutors, and 29 August for participants.

Please see the Download guidelines for your visa application (PDF, 848 KB).

Please note that the health and safety of all participants is our priority. During the summer school, we will adhere to the most recent guidelines of ETH Zurich, the BAG (the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health), KNUST, and Ministry of Health Ghana. We will also abide by the rules of our lodging, excursion, teaching and learning locations. We reserve the right to adapt or cancel the summer school at any point in time if new guidelines from either regulatory party require us to do so.

The Summer School is organised in collaboration between ETH for Development (ETH4D) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana.

Any further questions?

Please .

KNUST-ETH Global Development Summer School 2022

Contact

Dr. Marriette Mertens
Programme Manager
  • +41 44 633 85 28
  • vCard Download

ETH Zurich
ETH4D
Clausiusstrasse 37
8006 Zurich
Schweiz

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