The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) on February 23, 2026, welcomed a delegation of students and faculty from Slovenia at the University Council Chamber as part of a two-week international exchange programme designed to enhance professional training in nursing and forestry while promoting cross-cultural learning.
The visiting team, comprising three teachers and six students, is participating in the Erasmus+ International Mobility Programme, which promotes collaboration and experiential learning among institutions across continents.
Welcoming the delegation, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of UENR, Professor John K. M. Kuwornu, described the visit as an important milestone in strengthening international academic partnerships and expanding professional learning opportunities for students and faculty.
According to him, the exchange initiative demonstrates UENR’s commitment to building global networks that support research, teaching, and practical training. He commended Mr. Placide D. Guiatin, a Ghanaian lecturer currently based in France, for facilitating the partnership that brought the Slovenian team to the university.
He also assured the visitors of the university’s welcoming atmosphere, reiterating the institution’s guiding slogan, UENR is home, and encouraging them to feel comfortable during their stay.
Leader of the Slovenian delegation, Tamara Urbancic, explained that the primary goal of the visit is to allow students and staff to gain practical professional experience while immersing themselves in a different cultural environment.
According to Ms. Urbancic, the group represents an institution with approximately 430 students enrolled across three specialized academic programmes. She noted that participating in the exchange programme broadens the professional perspectives of students while allowing them to apply their knowledge in a new social and environmental context.
Providing further insight into the initiative, the programme coordinator, Mr. Placide D. Guiatin, explained that the exchange programme aims to bridge the gap between European and African educational practices through practical learning experiences and cross-cultural engagement.
He noted that the partnership was initiated after discussions with a Slovenian institution during an academic seminar in Europe and was later strengthened through a survey of potential Ghanaian partner institutions.
Although the visit was a short pilot programme, organisers view it as an important step toward establishing long-term academic and professional collaboration between institutions in Ghana and Slovenia.
The exchange programme focused on hands-on training in both nursing and forestry. Nursing students in the delegation undertook clinical rotations at the Sunyani Teaching Hospital to observe Ghana’s healthcare delivery system firsthand, following earlier clinical exposure at the government hospital in Tepa.
Forestry students, on the other hand, engaged in field-based learning activities, including interactive sessions with forestry professionals and visits to nearby forests to study regional ecology and forest management practices.
