SUNYANI, Ghana — The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) is stepping up efforts to expand international academic and professional opportunities for its students through new engagements with diplomatic missions and international institutions. As part of this initiative, Ing. Prof. Edward Abingya Awafo, Dean of the International Relations Office at UENR, visited the Embassy of Türkiye in Accra. During the visit, both parties discussed potential areas of international cooperation and opportunities for UENR students and staff. The engagement addressed several areas, including student exchange programmes, academic mobility, international exposure, and institutional partnerships. Opportunities with Türkiye, Germany, Canada, and other European countries were also explored.
Emphasis on Student Exchange and Academic Mobility
A primary topic of discussion was access to international exchange opportunities, such as Erasmus+, which would enable eligible UENR students to experience diverse academic environments and cultures while developing new skills and networks beyond Ghana. These discussions form part of UENR’s broader internationalisation strategy, which aims to establish relationships that support student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research, international internships, and professional development. Professor Awafo emphasized that the university’s international partnerships should ultimately result in practical opportunities for students. He stated that UENR’s international activities should provide students with opportunities to travel, acquire knowledge, collaborate, build professional networks, and gain experiences that complement their academic training.
UENR Strengthens International Engagement Initiatives
To enhance its international profile, UENR is currently engaging embassies, diplomatic missions, international organizations, and higher education institutions through the International Relations Office. As a result of these engagements, the university is exploring potential partnerships that could facilitate academic exchanges, research collaboration, internships, and other forms of institutional cooperation. The initiative may also provide opportunities for UENR faculty members to establish research and academic connections with institutions outside Ghana. Professor Awafo was accompanied at the engagement by Lady Priscilla Konabea Asiedu, Principal Administrative Assistant at the International Relations Office, and Mr. David Sekyi Yirenkyi, Registrar-in-Charge of the International Relations Office.
Building International Bridges Beyond Sunyani
UENR’s engagement with the Turkish Embassy represents another step in the university’s efforts to expand international partnerships and connect students and staff with opportunities beyond Ghana. The broader objective of the International Relations Office is to establish connections between UENR and global institutions, thereby facilitating academic, research, and professional opportunities. The university is now considering partnerships beyond its traditional institutional scope to enable students to gain practical international experiences during their studies at UENR. Through active engagement with diplomatic missions and international organizations, UENR aims to ensure that students beginning their studies in Sunyani will soon have increased access to opportunities in Africa, Europe, Canada, and other regions worldwide.
By Bismark Ferkah
September 28, 2026
Source & Attribution
The article was put together by the Ghana Beacon using information from an institutional release issued by the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), the release having been prepared and published by James Clarke Hayford of the Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations Office (IAARO) at UENR. The initial institutional material featured contributions from Ing. Prof. Edward Abingya Awafo, who was the Dean of the International Relations Office; Mr. David Sekyi Yirenkyi, the Registrar-in-Charge of the International Relations Office; and Lady Priscilla Konabea Asiedu, the Principal Administrative Assistant at the International Relations Office.
