Published on October 9, 2024

The African-German Doctoral Summer School took place for the second time at HAW Hamburg from September 9 to 14, 2024. The event offered 30 doctoral students and early career researchers with an African background a platform for academic exchange and networking. Participants of various nationalities, such as Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, Congo, and Bangladesh, converged in the beautiful city of Hamburg to learn, connect and grow.

Through a series of workshops and engagements, the event promoted not only academic knowledge but also social integration, which is seen as the key to success.

The Summer school began with a picnic at the Altonaer Balkon, an excellent opportunity for the participants to network and get to know each other. The following days were filled with empowering lectures, workshops, team-building activities and social interaction programs.

Well-being empowerment
Saskia Hanft-Robert, a Research Assistant and Psychotherapist in Training at the University of Hamburg took the participants on a journey through “Mental health adaptation and coping during PhD.” She highlighted practical ways PhD students care for their mental health. Through group exercises, the participants reflected on the internal and external challenges they face daily and on their positive attributes. In addition, Julia Fischer-Ortman, a practicing psychologist at Centra Hamburg, exposed the participants to strategies for managing stress to achieve balanced mental health. She highlighted different ways stress manifests itself and how to prevent it.

Personal development
Life is a project, and so are academic endeavors. Ulrike von Mickwitz, a project management specialist, took participants through the rudiments of project management. From the different types of projects, the project management lifecycle, and methodology to the pitfalls, participants were incredibly enlightened and equipped with the tools to manage their projects effectively.
Dr. Adekunle Adedeji led the group through a hands-on session on the “Application of Survey Tool for Academic Research.” This was an invaluable lesson, especially for researchers in the Humanities and social science fields. Dr. Phemelo Tamasiga delivered a practical session on conducting a bibliometric review and analysis. Academics looking to advance in their career developed the capacity to design and report bibliometric reviews. Under the close supervision of Dr. Taiwo Fagbemigun, participants had the opportunity to present their ongoing research work and received feedback from peers and experts.

African Development
Prof. Brando Okolo, Director/Leiter des Steinbeis-Beratungszentrums Institute for Material Applications & 3D Printing Solutions (IMAPS), lectured on leveraging skills and opportunities in Germany for African development. He highlighted areas of potential growth in Africa and the skills and opportunities in Germany that participants can leverage for African development. He stressed that the African Diaspora in Germany must proactively transfer know-how skills to the African continent.

Intercultural Competence
The session “Managing Conflict in an Intercultural Workplace,” facilitated by mediation and conflict resolution experts – Marion Bremer and Folarin Omishade, exposed the participants to the causes of conflicts and different communication styles in conflict. They stressed the need to identify and manage cultural differences harmoniously in an intercultural workplace. Living in a foreign environment can be daunting due to the socio-cultural differences. However, Folarin Omisade encouraged participants to be proud of embracing their uniqueness and see it as an opportunity to stand out and be extraordinary. He also called on them to develop the mindset always to speak out and stand up for themselves.

Career Development
Dr. Anne Schreiter, Executive Director of the German Scholars Organization and Dr. Fola Ogungbemi facilitated the career development sessions. Both speakers highlighted the essential steps to building an excellent career in Germany and the need for PhD students to consider alternative career paths beyond academia. Participants received practical tips on personal branding and transition strategies through the sessions.

Social Integration
The highlight of the summer school was the various activities designed to enhance the participants’ social integration in Germany. They engaged in social work, team-building activities, a tour of Hamburg, games and movie night. For some participants visiting Hamburg for the first time, it was indeed a great time to savour the beauty of the city.

The week-long summer school allowed the participants to reflect on their life’s journey, ask crucial questions concerning PhD and life in Germany, build new relationships and expand their capacity to cope with the rigors of life. For some, it was a getaway vacation from the stress of a PhD. For others, it was an excellent opportunity to smile again.