ASCAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND USE PHD PROGRAMME

KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI

Supported with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

FULL SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE

Background

The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is a multidisciplinary research-focused Climate Service Centre mandated to help tackle the challenges of climate change in West Africa. It was established to primarily, enhance the resilience of socio-ecological systems of West African countries to climate change and increased volatility. Its member countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

WASCAL ultimately aims at strengthening the research, educational and policy capacity and competency of the West-African countries to deal with issues of climate change and adapted land use on a scientific basis in partnership with German institutions. The programme seeks to give support to West African universities to synergize their efforts on a regional basis and to maximize their competencies and resources to improve the training in climate, land use and geosciences for better overall results and increased benefit to West Africa.

The PhD programme in Climate Change and Land Use (CCLU) is hosted at the Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. The aim of the programme is to train students in the science and technology of climate change mitigation and adaptation related to land use and land cover change.

The specific objectives of the programme are to equip students with the:

• knowledge on the subject of climate sciences, land use and modelling.
• skills to identify and critically analyse climate change and land use issues.
• capacity to conduct independent and multidisciplinary research in climate and land use changes.
• capacity to apply knowledge acquired in solving societal problems related to climate change and land use/cover changes.
• ability to build network among themselves and researchers from other Lead Universities in the region and Germany on climate change and land use issues.

Entry Requirements

In conformity with the entry requirement of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the applicant must:

1. Have a minimum of Second Class (Upper Division) in their first degree and a good master’s degree in Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Engineering option), Civil Engineering (Water Resources/Hydrology option), Geomatic Engineering, Natural Resources (Silviculture and Forestry, and Watershed management), Mathematics, Geography, Land Economy, Atmospheric Physics, Climatology, and other relevant disciplines, with an average of at least 60 %. Submit academic transcripts as evidence.
2. Have Proficiency in English as indicated below:

• Must have first or second degree with English language as the medium of instruction, OR
• Must have an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language (eg. TOEFL or IELTS) with above average score.

3. Demonstrate adequate intellectual capacity, maturity and effective decision making and problem-solving potentials.
4. Experience with modelling and GIS would be an advantage but not a prerequisite.
5. Female applicants are encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates should note the following:

• Francophone candidates will undertake a three-month intensive English course at University of Cape Coast.
• Anglophone candidates will undertake a three-month intensive French course at University of Lome.
• Full time availability for a period of 43 months.
• Must be able to travel to Germany for a period of 3 – 6 months

Scholarship Opportunity

The DRP through the School of Graduate Studies, KNUST is pleased to announce availability of scholarships. All applicants are encouraged to indicate on the fee-paying forms their willingness or otherwise to be enrolled as self-financing students with alternative means of sponsorship in case they do not qualify for scholarship.

Scholarship-holding PhD fellows will receive a monthly stipend to cover accommodation and other expenses for the duration of the programme. Approved travel costs, costs for fieldwork, etc., will be reimbursed. The disbursement of scholarship funds will be based on successful delivery of research work deliverables to be agreed upon between the programme Director, the Supervisor, and the PhD fellow at the onset of the research work.

Field research will be sponsored after a successful course work and defence of a PhD proposal. The PhD fellow can travel to Germany once during the PhD fellowship period to participate in PhD level courses and joint supervision, if conditions allow. The trip will be 3 – 6 months in duration. Airfare will be paid for by WASCAL and a monthly stipend to cater for lodging and personal expenses in Germany.

Application Supporting Documents/Additional Information

1. Completed application form
2. Detailed CV
3. Fee-paying form (Click here to download)
4. Two letters of reference (one from a supervisor at the Master’s level)
5. Proof of English proficiency
6. Scanned copies of official certificates for BSc and MSc degrees
7. Official transcripts for BSc and MSc degrees
8. Scanned copy of recent passport-sized photographs
9. Evidence of current and previous employments (if applicable).
10. A short concept note (max. 3 pages outlining the justification, objectives, methodology and expected outcomes of your research idea).
11. Letter of motivation (max. two pages) with the heading “WASCAL DRP - CCLU PhD” outlining the following:

• Why you want to study Climate Change and Land Use at the PhD level
• Your current occupation
• Why you are well-suited to study this programme
• How your admission into the PhD Climate Change and Land Use Programme will fit into your professional vision
• How your home country stands to benefit after your training
• You may also add other relevant information and/or experience you feel is necessary to support your application. Send all application documents as single pdf document to wascal.cclu@knust.edu.gh and copy capacitybp@wascal.org;  wascalknust@gmail.com. The pdf document should be named with your surname and country (e.g., Mensah_Ghana)

Completing Application Form

1. Access the KNUST application form via: Ghanaian and Foreign Applicants: https://apps.knust.edu.gh/admissions/apply/Account/Register
2. Carefully read the IMPORTANT NOTES on the Application Form
3. Complete application form and upload a recent passport-size picture per the photo requirement of the application
4. Submit the signed application form and other information to email addresses above.

Note

• Application deadline: January 31st, 2025.
• Supporting documents in French must have an official English translation in addition
• Ineligible, incomplete or late applications will not be processed
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview or to provide additional details.