FROM RESEARCH TO RESILIENCE BUILDING: THE UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES THIRD TRIMESTER FIELD PRACTICAL PROGRAMME AS A WINDOW FOR FOSTERING RURAL COMMUNITIES’ CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN GHANA

Abstract

Despite the growing concerns for climate change adaptation promotion through education, universities’ contributions remain largely in the form of greening campuses and curriculum development with limited engagements with local communities to build their adaptative capacity. Climate change education in Ghanaian public universities is mostly about climate change curricula with limited local community adaptation promotion. This paper examines the contribution of a Ghanaian public university in promoting rural communities’ adaption in northern Ghana. Guided by a qualitative case study methodology, the University for Development Studies’ Third Trimester Field Practical Programme [TTFPP] is made a case.   The paper is developed with a focus on climate change teaching/learning, research, administration and field/community practical works with students, lecturers and administrators in view. A review of the university’s policy documents and an online survey comprising students, lecturers and administrators provided the data. The study found that the students, lecturers and administrators possess a wealth of climate change knowledge even though climate scepticism exist among some staff. Also, the university does not have a climate change policy now. Nonetheless, the TTFPP is perceived to have the potential of promoting adaptation among rural communities in northern Ghana.

Keywords: Climate Change, Adaptation, Universities, Education, Rural Communities