The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Somanya, Eastern Region, has taken another significant step towards strengthening its international partnerships following a courtesy call and strategic engagement by Prof. Emmanuel Daanoba Sunkari, Associate Professor of Mining Engineering and Director of Environment and Ecology at Sir Padampat Singhania University (SPSU), India.
Prof. Sunkari, a Ghanaian academic currently based in India, paid the visit as part of efforts to explore collaborative opportunities between SPSU and UESD while contributing to the advancement of environmental and sustainability-focused education and research in Ghana.
Welcoming Prof. Sunkari to the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson, described the visit as timely and important, particularly as UESD continues to expand its global network of academic and research partners.
He noted that although UESD is a young institution, it is steadily building a strong reputation through the dedication and commitment of its teaching and non-teaching staff. According to him, strategic partnerships remain central to the University’s growth agenda, enabling it to learn from institutions and professionals with extensive experience in areas that align with its mandate.
“At UESD, we believe in working with institutions and individuals who can support our vision and help us chart the way forward. We are committed to building meaningful collaborations that enhance teaching, research, and community impact,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.
Prof. Sunkari shared his desire to maintain strong academic links with Ghana. He explained that UESD’s focus on environmental sustainability closely aligns with his professional interests and the work of SPSU, making collaboration between the two institutions both relevant and beneficial.
As part of his visit, Prof. Sunkari outlined a series of academic activities designed to build capacity among staff and students. These included a seminar on The Role of Medical Geology in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hands-on training sessions on AquaChem software for water quality assessment and IBM SPSS Statistics for geochemical data analysis, as well as an interaction with students on postgraduate study opportunities and scholarships available at SPSU.
The discussions also focused on the possibility of establishing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UESD and SPSU. The proposed partnership is expected to promote joint research, academic exchanges, staff and student mobility, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative projects in environmental science, sustainability, geology, mining, and related fields. Prof. Sunkari’s presented a book titled: Geology and Gold Mineralisation to UESD.
Prof. Sunkari also presented a lecture on “The Role of Medical Geology in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” to faculty members and students of the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences. Held at the Auditorium of the Multipurpose Building, the lecture explored the intersection between geology, human health, and sustainable development, highlighting the role of geosciences in addressing contemporary environmental and public health challenges.