The University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) has entered into a partnership with Environment 360, an NGO that focuses on joint community and academic research and development projects.
At a meeting in the office of the Vice-Chancellor of UESD to seal the partnership under a Memorandum of Understanding, (MoU), Prof. Eric Nyarko-Sampson signed for UESD while the Founder and Executive Director of Environment 360, Ms. Cordie Aziz-Nash signed for her organisation. It was witnessed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Edward Wiafe-Debrah, and the Programmes Manager for Environment 360, Ms. Selasi Charway-Glover.
In her remarks, Madam Aziz-Nash first briefed the Vice-Chancellor and his team about her organisation. She said, Environment 360 is one of the oldest environment NGOs in Ghana engaged in community recycling.
Environment 360 is interested in working with educational institutions that are into research and development and she is excited about its partnership with UESD. She continued that working with partners like UESD will help accelerate the movement into the green economy space. It is also good to move into areas like Somanya and its environs to help rural communities not only address the plastic waste challenge but also help create job opportunities.
According to Ms. Aziz-Nash, Environment 360 is now finalising the Verra certification process. After that, it will launch the first Verra standard plastic credit initiative in West Africa and the second one globally.
She expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for opening the doors of UESD for the corporation and looks forward to a productive partnership. She was hopeful that working closely with students of UESD would develop a wide range of products or other innovative ideas that could be rolled out on the local market.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson expressed delight about the partnership. He said, in the wave of the issue of plastic menace, the Community Engagement and Project Innovations Unit (CEPIU) of the University has in the last two years conducted the Community Development Challenge Awards which involved some Basic Schools (JHS) in Somanya and its environs.
The programme focused on plastic waste and its alternative use. The innovations and creative skills the learners projected in deriving reusable items from plastics and how it was done indicated that there is more that can be done in the area of recycling plastics; it just needs to be directed on the right path.
Prof. Nyarko-Sampson stated that UESD has a crashing machine yet to be installed therefore, the MoU is a great avenue to add on and together see how both institutions can work hand in hand.
He also touched on UESD Community Based Experiential Learning (CoBEL) programme, offered by UESD to prospective level 300 students. The students are sent into the communities to live with the people for five weeks, learn about their challenges, and help proffer solutions to them
He highlighted that the first batch of graduates will be coming out this year for their industrial attachment and enquired about the opportunities that are in store for them in terms of the community and the industry engagement areas Environment 360 engrosses.