Three PhD students from the Faculty of Built Environment at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have returned from a three-month research exchange programme at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Developing Global Experts (BRIDGE) project.
The beneficiaries: Ms. Jannat Abass and Mr. Alex Osei from the Department of Land Economy, and Mr. Roger Danladi from the Department of Construction Technology and Management joined the academic exchange as part of BRIDGE’s capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening research collaboration between KNUST and RWTH Aachen University.
While in Aachen, they received independent critiques on their PhD theses, attended seminars, and gained access to extensive academic resources, including high-impact databases and libraries.
According to Professor Divine Ahadzie, BRIDGE Coordinator at KNUST, a total of seven KNUST doctoral students have benefited from the research exchange component of the project this year. Four students from the Department of Religion and Human Development had earlier participated in the first phase from June to August 2025.
At RWTH Aachen, the students were hosted by Univ. Prof. Dr. Ing. Heribert Nacken, Director of the BRIDGE project, Head of the Engineering Hydrology Department, and UNESCO Chair of Hydrological Change and Water Resources Management.
Reflecting on their experience, one of the participants described the stay as the “golden period” of their PhD journey:
“The dedicated time to the thesis, free from all forms of distractions, was priceless. What was thought to take a year was achieved within this period,” the student noted, adding that they were able to analyze data, complete their thesis draft, and even submit a manuscript for publication.
Another student emphasized the academic enrichment gained from access to RWTH’s vast library and databases:
“This opportunity has greatly advanced my work. I am now at the final stages of my PhD and plan to submit the draft before the end of the year,” they said.
Beyond research, the visit also included cultural exploration. The team visited the Aachen Cathedral and Rathaus, renowned for their medieval architecture, and held interactive sessions with Professor Nacken and other faculty members, discussing topics such as artificial intelligence in academia, bridging research and industry, and global academic challenges.
Summarizing the trip, Prof. Ahadzie described it as “an excellent platform for scholarly exchange and professional growth.” He added that the experience has strengthened academic ties between KNUST and RWTH Aachen, while enhancing the students’ capacity to contribute to research and innovation back home.
