Two lecturers from the Department of Wood Science and Technology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi: Dr. Kwadwo Boakye Boadu and Dr. Rogerson Anokye are currently in Slovenia on an academic mobility visit under the Erasmus+ KA171 Staff Mobility Programme.

The ongoing visit, which runs from October 26 to November 3, 2025, is fully funded by the Erasmus+ KA171 initiative.

It aimed to deepen academic collaboration, explore joint research opportunities in wood science and sustainable biomaterials, and build connections with leading European institutions advancing sustainable wood technologies.

The host for the mobility programme was Prof. Dr. Manja Kitek Kuzman, a globally recognized authority in sustainable timber architecture, furniture design, and construction at the University of Ljubljana’s Biotechnical Faculty.

The KNUST delegation began their visit at the University of Ljubljana’s Department of Wood Science, where they met the Head of Department and sectional heads, and toured state-of-the-art laboratories and workshops showcasing the university’s investment in advanced research infrastructure.

During the visit, Dr. Anokye delivered a presentation highlighting KNUST’s academic programmes, research priorities, and internationalization strategies. He also outlined prospects for student exchange and joint research in furniture design, wooden construction, renewable materials, and sustainable forestry.

A key highlight was the visit to the InnoRenew Centre of Excellence (InnoRenew CoE) in Izola, one of Europe’s foremost research hubs for wood innovation.

The KNUST team was received by Dr. Michael Burnard, Deputy Director of InnoRenew, who led a tour of the institute’s specialized laboratories in wood modification, acoustics, characterization, durability testing, ergonomics, timber buildings, and bio-based materials.

At InnoRenew, Dr. Boadu delivered a presentation titled “Collaborative Pathways in Wood and Sustainable Biomaterial Science: A Ghana–Slovenia Exchange.” The talk explored synergies between InnoRenew’s European wood research agenda and KNUST’s expertise in tropical wood, sustainability, and local bio-resources. He proposed pathways for future collaboration in research, student exchange, and joint grant applications, emphasizing a shared vision for a circular and bio-based economy.

The session generated strong mutual interest, with both institutions agreeing to develop collaborative research proposals and exchange programmes for students and staff.

The visit also included engagements at the University of Primorska in Izola, where the KNUST delegation discussed broader institutional partnerships. The trip is expected to pave the way for extended cooperation in Austria and other parts of Central Europe, reinforcing KNUST’s commitment to advancing global academic collaboration in wood science, materials research, and sustainable resource management.