Path to the Future for Climate Change Education: A University Project Approach

Abstract

The university system can be perceived as an institution that nurtures, trains, educates and monitors students in the understanding of myriads of bodies of knowledge about the earth’s system and all other natural and human activities. With particular reference to climate change education, it also engages students in research activities as a way of learning science, understanding climate change, contributing to climate change studies and participating in several local and international workshops, seminars and conferences. This paper focuses on how climate change projects within the university system can be used to develop and build capacities in the field of climate science. The study develops a triadic model of capacity building built around training, mentoring and networking. A case study for the Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change (AIACC) project in sub-Saharan West Africa is used to illustrate this model. Considering the fact that many developed and developing countries are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change albeit with different intensities, it is recommended that these countries adopt this triadic model so as to increase capacity as well as reduce their level of vulnerability to impact from climate change.