Call for 2018 Applications : The Study of PhD in Climate Change and Land Use at KNUST
The WASCAL Doctoral Research Programme in Climate Change and Land Use (DRP-CCLU) is pleased to announce that up to 11 fully-funded (tuition, stipend, research and travel grants) scholarships are available for applicants from the following eleven (11) West African Countries to study for PhD in Climate Change and Land Use at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana:
Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Senegal, The Gambia and Togo.
BACKGROUND
The WASCAL Doctoral Research Programme is a German-government sponsored PhD programme aimed at providing state-of-the-art training for scientists and professionals in Climate Change and Land Use. The programme is strongly multidisciplinary and jointly organised by twelve institutions from twelve countries (i.e. the eleven West African Countries listed above and Germany). Participants will acquire knowledge on the causes of climate change, the implications of climate change on land use for the West African sub-region, and the policy and management practices that may be put in place to mitigate and adapt to the impact of the changing climate on land use.
The variation in climate conditions compounded by poor land management practices are threats to development of the region. The region, which is generally poor, is yet to effectively develop geographic information system and remote sensing technologies for land administration. These, when developed are expected to make available useful data and information for effective land use management.
The West African sub-region is faced with the following challenges, which may hinder the bid towards effective land use management:
- Limited opportunities for land use and geo-scientists to improve their capacity at the graduate level.
- Lack of electronic science infrastructure for land use education and training.
- Gaps between climate and land use research findings and implementation.
- Lack of awareness about the value of climate and land use information among decision makers.
Considering the identified knowledge and capacity gaps, and the unsustainable management of land in the sub-region accompanied by climate change, the sub-region risks not achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive understanding of the changing climate of the region and its impact on land use. This calls for adequately trained human resources in land use and related geo-sciences for sustainable development and use of land for the present and future generations.
In light of the above, the German initiative “West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use” (WASCAL) support Doctoral Research Programme in Climate Change and Land Use (DRP-CCLU) (based at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana), focusing on capacity building at the PhD level to help develop the knowledge necessary for sustainable land use and management in the face of climate change. The programme will train participants to develop skills in data acquisition, analysis and interpretation of spatial data focusing on the use of remote sensing, GIS and empirical and mathematical modelling tools as related to climate change and land use. This should develop adequate human capacity in the sub-region for developing appropriate adaptation strategies to manage the impact of climate change on land and to develop resilient land use systems.
This initiative seeks to give support to West African universities to synergize their efforts on a regional basis and maximize their capabilities to improve the training of land use experts and geo-scientists for better overall results and increased benefit to West Africa. The programme ultimately aims at strengthening the research, educational and policy capacity and competency of West-African countries to deal with issues of climate change through adapted land use on a scientific basis in partnership with German institutions.It is expected that these PhD fellows upon graduation will be competent for engagement by universities, research institutes and the public service.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Participants graduating from this multidisciplinary and multinational programme will gain skills as scientific officers, managers of natural resources or academics expected to find employment in conservation agencies and bodies, land and forestry agencies, research institutions, nature reserves, overseas aid programmes, international NGOs, environmental protection agencies, departments of agriculture, water resources or soil, and academic institutions.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPANTS
Selected PhD Candidate will be required to strictly adhere to the following:
- Attend all classes for the required modules in the course work phase and pass all examinations.
- Develop a comprehensive research proposal with detailed literature review and methodology.
- Must pass a comprehensive exam after the first year as a requirement of the KNUST School of Graduate Studies.
- You will be required to provide timely feedbacks and submit reports and assignments on schedule.
- The international nature of the programme will demand good working relations among people of different cultures, so participants must show maturity in working in groups.
- Publish at least 2 papers from his/her research findings in a reputable international peer-reviewed journal before qualifying to graduate.
The selected candidate will be enrolled in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and will attend all lectures at Kumasi but will have the opportunity to visit any of the partner institutions and the WASCAL Competency Centre for research and discussions when necessary.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
The Programme has a maximum of 20 places for the year 2018, with eleven available 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 scholarship, in case they don’t qualify for scholarship.
All scholarship-holding PhD fellows will receive a stipend of €500.00 per month (but will receive €250.00 during pre-course English language preparations) to cover accommodation and other expenses for the months spent in Ghana. Approved travel costs, costs for fieldwork, etc., will be reimbursed. The disbursement of scholarship funds will be connected to the successful delivery of research work deliverables to be agreed upon between the project 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 has the opportunity to travel to Germany once during the course of the PhD fellowship period to participate in PhD level courses and joint supervision, if his/her condition allows him to. The trip will be 3 – 6 months in duration. Airfare will be paid for by the project and a monthly stipend of about €1000.00 (to cater for lodging and personal expenses) will also be provided for each month spent in Germany.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
In conformity with the entry requirement of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the successful candidate will have a minimum of:
- Second Class (Upper Division) in their first degree and a good Masters 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.
- English Proficiency 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 (TOEFLor IELTS) with above average score.
- Otherwise the candidate will have to undertake a three-month pre-master’s intensive English course at KNUST.
- Full time availability from April 30, 2018 for a period of forty-three months.
- Demonstrate adequate intellectual capacity, maturity and effective decision making and problem solving potentials.
- Experience with modelling and GIS would be an advantage but not a prerequisite.
- Must have the ability to travel to Germany for a period of 3 to 6 months
APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND CONTACT
Candidates may apply directly to the DRP CCLU by submitting all information requested via email to the Secretary at wascalknust@gmail.com/wascal.cclu@knust.edu.gh and copy to intern.w@wascal.org/weto.s@wascal.org before the deadline February 28, 2018. For further information you may call +233 322062529 during office hours (08:00hrs –to 17:00hrs GMT)
Deadline: February 28, 2018
Completing Application Form
- Access the KNUST application form via
Ghanaian Applicants: Are to complete the attached pdf application forms
Foreign Applicants: admissions.knust.edu.gh/pgadmissionsnew/foreign.php
- All Applicants must submit two completed referee’s form (attached pdf )
- Carefully read the IMPORTANT NOTES on the Application Form
- Complete application form and add scanned recent passport-size picture
- Submit the signed application form and other information to email addresses above.
KNUST in collaboration with the DRP CCLU Board will short list candidates and select one candidate for each country. There will be a selection interview in/or near Kumasi or via telephone. The date of the interview will be communicated after shortlisting. The selection interview is mandatory to support the final selection of candidates. Successful candidates will then submit hardcopy of the application package.
APPLICATION SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
- Completed application form
- Detailed CV
- Fee-paying form
- Two letters of reference (one from a supervisor at the Master’s level)
- Proof of English proficiency
- Official transcripts for BSc and MSc degrees
- Photocopy of official certificates for BSc and MSc degrees
- Two recent passport-sized photographs
- Evidence of current and previous employments (if applicable).
- Submit both soft and hard copies of a short concept note (max. 3 pages outlining the justification, objectives, methodology and expected outcomes of the research idea.
- Submit both soft and hard copies of a 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
- What is your current occupation or job
- 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.
NOTE:
- Application deadline: February 28, 2018.
- Send supporting documents in a single zip file
- 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 by March 15, 2018 for an interview or to provide additional details
WEBSITES
KNUST website: http://www.knust.edu.gh
WASCAL website: http://wascal.knust.edu.gh OR https://icg4wascal.icg.kfa-juelich.de