UENR holds summer school on water, energy, food systems
The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) has hosted this year’s EPIC Africa Summer School aimed at strengthening Africa's expertise in Water-Energy-Food (WEF) systems modelling.
This year's programme brought together 41 dedicated participants from across the continent for an intensive journey into the CLEWs (Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems) framework, blending theoretical learning with hands-on practice and meaningful regional collaboration.
The programme, which began on August 4, 2025, would end on August 22, 2025, marking another significant milestone in WEF.
Project
Operating under Work Package 6 of the EPIC Africa Project, the summer school was expertly coordinated by the UENR, through the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability in Ghana, working alongside prestigious partners including KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Delft University of Technology.
It was to equip young professionals, researchers and practitioners with the essential skills and tools needed for integrated resource planning in an increasingly complex world.
“The diversity of this year's cohort was remarkable, with participants representing Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, Egypt, Sierra Leone and several other African countries.
Ghana led the charge with 18 participants, demonstrating strong local engagement with the programme”.
“The hybrid format proved particularly effective, accommodating twenty-three participants who joined in person at UENR's campus while seven others connected virtually, ensuring that geographical barriers didn't limit access to this valuable learning opportunity,” a statement issued by the university said.
Participation
It said while the programme achieved impressive participation rates, it's worth noting that only four participants were women.
“This statistic, representing just over thirteen per cent of the cohort, underscores the ongoing need for more targeted efforts to encourage female participation in future editions of the programme.
The women who did participate, however, brought tremendous energy and insight to the discussions, highlighting the value that greater gender diversity would bring to this field,” it said.
The programme, the statement said, unfolded in carefully designed phases that maximised learning outcomes.
Prof. Samuel Gyamfi, Centre Director for Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, delivered a welcome address that set the tone for the intensive learning journey ahead.
The first week laid a solid foundation, with participants diving deep into the fundamentals of CLEWs-based WEF modelling.
Working with the OSeMOSYS interface, they began constructing Ghana's energy and resource system model, transforming abstract concepts into practical applications.
It said participants have gained far more than technical skills in systems modelling.
They had become part of a growing, vibrant community of WEF practitioners spanning the continent.
“The relationships formed during these intensive weeks promise to yield collaborative projects, knowledge sharing and mutual support for years to come.
Many participants spoke of feeling part of something larger than themselves—a movement toward more integrated, evidence-based approaches to resource management across Africa,” it said.
