UEW Hosts 7th Edition of African Linguistics School: A Hub for Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building in Linguistics
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has from Monday, 22nd July to Friday, 2nd August 2024, hosted the 7th edition of the African Linguistics School (ALS 7), a prestigious biennial training programme that draws top linguistics experts from around the world.
This significant event served as a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building in linguistics research and scholarship, attracting participants from 11 countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Sudan, Togo, Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania.
The two-week intensive training featured insightful presentations and discussions on various linguistic topics, facilitated by renowned professors who generously provided free tuition to the participants.
The conference exposed 71 African students to the latest advances in linguistics, covering areas such as phonology, phonetics, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistics. Additionally, it offered students the opportunity to present their research and receive valuable feedback from esteemed scholars.
During a courtesy call from the ALS delegation, Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual, Vice-Chancellor of UEW, expressed gratitude to the ALS organisers for selecting the university as the host institution.
Prof. Mitchual commended the local organising committee, led by Dr. Abraham Kwesi Bisilki, for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the success of the conference. Prof. Mitchual pledged support for the ALS movement and offered to host future editions of the event.
Prof. Enoch Olade Aboh, a co-founding member of ALS, extended his appreciation to the university for its tremendous support, noting that the partnership enabled the school to accommodate 71 students from various African countries and 22 faculty members from around the globe.
He emphasised that ALS aims to expose African students to cutting-edge linguistic research and scholarship, highlighting UEW's profound hospitality and support.
In an interview with the UEW Media Relations outfit, Dr. Rogers Krobea Asante, Acting Head of the Department of Applied Linguistics, and secretary to the local organising committee for ALS 7, expressed satisfaction with the programme's outcome.
He highlighted the benefits of the conference, including networking opportunities, access to current knowledge, and guidance on graduate programme applications in Europe and the United States. Dr. Asante praised the management and service providers for their relentless efforts in organising the programme and lauded the committee members for their crucial roles in hosting the event.
The African Linguistics School, founded in 2009, has previously been held in various countries, including Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and South Africa. This year’s edition at UEW continues the tradition of fostering academic excellence and collaboration in the field of linguistics across the continent.
