The Director of GRÓ GEST visits partners in Ghana
As part of an ongoing Erasmus+ partnership between CEGENSA at the University of Ghana and the GEST programme at the Univeristy of Iceland, the Director of GRÓ GEST visited Accra earlier this year. She gave a presentation at the Gender Studies Programme at the University of Ghana and had a conversation with masters students on gender equality in Iceland and the diverse research and educational activities of the GRÓ GEST program. The lecture was well attended by both students from the Gender Studies Program and other departments.
Dr. Irma Erlingsdóttir visited the offices of CEGENSA - Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy at the University of Ghana and had a productive meeting with her colleauges. After introducing the main research and educational focus of the two university departments they discussed synergies and opportunities for colaboration. Among other things, this resulted in discussions on further developing teaching mobility by involving CEGENSA staff in both teaching and supervision of future GEST fellows. GRÓ GEST is very keen to continue this important collaboration with CEGENSA through which junior professionals and students from Ghana are encouraged to build capacity,formulate and carry out gender equality projects in their communities.
Dr. Erlingsdóttir also had a meeting with representatvies of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO. The work of GEST is closely connected to UNESCO – in particular the work of the Education Sector and Social and Human Sciences Sector. Dr. Erlingsdóttir was informed on the organisation´s objectives and ideals in Ghana, contributing to global peace, poverty alleviation, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue. At the same meeting she introduced to GRÓ-GEST programme. UNESCO representatives expressed interest in collaborating with GRÓ GEST in locating promising junior professionals in the area of gender equality for the GEST post-graduate training programme, as well as supporting GEST's existing Ghanaian alumni network in their future activities.
The Director of GRÓ GEST also hosted an alumni event in Accra bringing together the former GEST fellows from Ghana. The meeting served the purpose to create a platform for the alumni to strengthen their connections and share their professional experiences, as well as strategizing the way forward for the Ghanaian alumni network with the aim to provide networking and professional development opportunities for alumni.
Dr. Erlingsdóttir also had meetings and constructive conversations with various NGOs and organisations during which she learned about their work and briefed them about the GRÓ GEST program.
GRÓ GEST looks forward to a continued fruitful collaboration with its partners in Ghana.
