Balance of theory and practice: Specialists from Ghana share impressions of the RUDN Institute of Ecology's CPE Program

The Sustainable Urban Development program, which the guests completed, is aimed at improving practical competencies in the field of sustainable urban development, infrastructure modernization, and the implementation of modern management and digital solutions.

The specialists from Ghana not only attended lectures by university experts and thematic seminars but also participated in practical sessions analyzing real-world cases from their professional fields. The program also included workshops and excursions to urban infrastructure facilities. For example, they visited the company “EcoLine,” which is involved in waste collection, sorting, processing, and disposal.

Eager to return

According to the guests, studying at RUDN was an important professional experience for them: the specialists noted the balance of theory and practice, the quality of the class organization, and the lecturers’ openness to dialogue. The program participants specifically emphasized the value of networking and the opportunity to establish contacts with representatives of companies, organizations, and the academic community working in the field of sustainable urban development.

“I could write a book about RUDN, Moscow, and Russia after this trip. My perception of your country has completely changed; all stereotypes have vanished. As for the educational program, it was informative and interesting throughout. I learned a lot about Moscow, and I especially liked the transport system. I would like to continue my education in this field, maybe even return and enroll at RUDN. Someday, I would like to be part of a team that implements similar smart solutions in our country’s transport system. Your security systems are top-notch,” says Gideon Ofosu-Mensah, representative of the Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly.

“The program modules touched on many issues relevant back home. It’s sad that we were limited in time; I would return to study QGIS, spatial data, and aspects of cybersecurity in more depth, to gain more knowledge and implement this in my municipality. I especially enjoyed the excursions to various facilities, where they showed us how everything works there. It was very useful. And RUDN lived up to its name as the ’Peoples’ Friendship University’; I saw this friendship with my own eyes. Russia is a great country with beautiful people, and I would gladly return here again to study, explore your country, and learn the language,” — Arthur Nana Akua Afriyie, representative of the Korle-Klottey Municipal Assembly.

Upon completion of the program, the participants gained practical knowledge in the field of public utilities management, waste management, green infrastructure development, and digital urban governance. They learned more about an integrated approach to sustainable urban development and acquired tools for applying the studied solutions in the context of Ghanaian cities.