UNIVERSITY OF KOBLENZ SUMMER ACADEMY

JUNE 29TH – JULY 24TH

REPORT

PARTICIPANTS FROM GHANA

1. SETH OPARE

INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

2. SARFO BAFFOUR G.K

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

3. EMMANUEL CHAPMAN KODAM

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

4. MARTIN DANSO

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

5. ERIC KOFFI HAGAN

NIIT

6. MITCHRIS CHAPMAN KODAM

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

2009 UNIVERSITY OF KOBLENZ SUMMER ACADEMY REPORT

FOREWORD

Having been in the academia for my most parts of my life, I am pleased to be part of the 2009 University

of Koblenz Summer Academy, which was unique in many ways;

• It was a very successful combination of learning, travel and discovery.

• It provided the opportunity to experience diversity of cultures and nationalities.

• It was uniquely composed of young people with a great potential to become tomorrow’s

leaders.

• The participants represented a very good combination of students from developed as well as

developing and emerging economies.

The 2009 Summer Academy in particular has demonstrated a strong ability to manage time, stress and

combine serious academic work and recreational activities. The cohesion among students, staff and

organizers has been exemplary of how heterogeneous communities can achieve harmony and live in

peace together in a multicultural environment where respect, understanding, care and teaching and

learning was witnessed.

I have no doubt that many members of the 2009 University of Koblenz Summer Academy will go very far

and contribute to their various societies they find themselves and also be models of worthy emulation in

their societies, communities and countries.

Sarfo Baffour G.K

University of Ghana

THE 2009 UNIVERSITY OF KOBLENZ SUMMER ACADEMY

A bold educational and cultural initiative, the 2009 Summer Academy was a unique study abroad

opportunity for global- minded university students to live and learn in a multicultural environment .Four

weeks of intense academic work combined with a host of social programs were the unique

characteristics of the Summer Academy organized by the University of Koblenz which was made up of

almost 80 students from 17 countries.

On the 24th

of June 2009 Six students from GHANA namely Sarfo Baffour G.K, Martin Danso, Seth

Opare, Emmanuel Chapman Kodam, Mitchris Chapman Kodam and Kofi Eric Hagan who were

beneficiaries of DAAD scholarships to attend the 2009 Summer Academy organized by the University of

Koblenz converged at the Kotoka International Airport to board an Emirates Airline en route to

Frankfurt.

We embarked on our trip to Germany on the 24th

of June 2009 from Ghana where we had a stopover in

Dubai on the 25th

of July before emplaning to Germany from Dubai on the 25th

of July. This dream

became a reality when we finally arrived at the Frankfurt Airport at exactly 13:15 on the 25th

July.

More significantly was our nice ride on the ice train from Frankfurt to Koblenz where we were met on

arrival by staff of the University of Koblenz namely Ms. Sabine Hulstrunk and Mr. Mario Shaarchmidt.

The opportunity of meeting people from diverse cultures reflects a larger change within us. The Summer

Academy community celebrates difference and diversity as we learned about Germany, other cultures

and share our own ideas.

The Summer Academy has provided adrenalin within individual participants. Now we emerge from an

experience that has changed each of us undeniably.

In this picture from left to right; Sarfo Baffour, Mitchris Chapman & Martin Danso @ Dubai Airport

From Left to right; Ali Zuhair, Agnes, Sarfo, Sabine, Mitchris, Seth Opare & Martin

The Summer Academy Community

Students who attended the 2009 University of Koblenz Summer Academy who were beneficiaries of

DAAD scholarship of which participants from Ghana were significant beneficiaries lived in residential

hostels, small living and learning communities composed of an internationally diverse group of students.

The residential facilities included both the House St. Joseph which was located in Vallendar and House

Providentia which was also located in Metternich a few minutes’ drive or walk from the main University

campus in Koblenz. The House St. Josef harbored students from Ghana, India, Tajikistan, Moldova,

Finland, Nigeria, Iraq, Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and Finland. In total there were 18 students in House St.

Josef in Vallendar. The Summer Academy houses consisted of groups of students and staff who shared

an academic and social interest.

A view of Students @House St. Josef in Vallendar

Back to front, left to right;

Ankit Jain (India), Sarah Winkler (Germany), Sarfo Baffour (Ghana), Vangelis Promponas (Greece), Martin

Danso (Ghana), Mitchris Chapman (Ghana), Animesh (India), Mia (Finland), Ali Zuhair (Iraq), Seth Opare

(Ghana), Said (Tajikistan) and Frederico Fortuna (Brazil)

ACADEMICS

Academic life was the central component of the 2009 Summer Academy organized by the University of

Koblenz. While enjoying life in Germany students continually worked on individual assignments,

presentations, group projects as well as attending lectures of their various courses. Students were well

equipped with the resources located in the University’s library as well as I.C.T centre. The University

Library contained a host of books, magazines, newspapers which students used for their various

research works and assignment as well as learning. There were several computers connected to the

internet available at the I.C.T centre which enabled students to conduct their research.

What made the Summer Academy unique was that students shared ideas and learned from peers and

Professors who came from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds. As students learning experiences

were an eye opener. We have gained incredible experiences, knowledge and most importantly friends

from all over the continent.

Courses offered during the Summer Academy at University of Koblenz included International

Management, International Economics, E- Business Ventures, Networked Governance and Social Media

Management, Semantic Web, Customer Relationship Management, Strategic Network Management, E-

Government, Research Methods and Virtual Goods beyond Digital Rights Management . These were

taught by a group of dedicated Professors with the help of their enterprising teaching assistants.

The Academic Community of University of Koblenz

The University of Koblenz Campus

Participants inspecting Academic Facilities @ University of Koblenz

From left to right

Ali Zuhair (Iraq), Sanjeev (India), Frederico Fortuna (Brazil), Mitchris Chapman (Ghana) & Mario

Schaarchmidt

ACADEMIC SCHOLARS & PROJECT TEAM

E-Business Ventures

Harald F.O. von Kortzfleisch Arbeitsgruppe für Management von

Information, Innovation, Entrepreneurship und

Organisation (MI²EO)!

International Economics

PD. Dr. Gregor van der Beek

Institute for Management

Research group Economics

Strategic Network Management

Prof. Paula Swatman

Division of Information

Technology, Engineering and

the Environment

Networked Governance & Social Media Management

Assistant Professor Ines Mergel

Semantic Web

Prof. Dr. Steffen Staab

Institute for Computer Science

Research Group ISWEB

Customer Relationship Management

Prof. Dr. Petra Schubert

Institute for IS Research

Research Group Business Software

E-Government

Prof. Dr. Maria Wimmer

E-Government

Research Methods in IS

Prof. Dr. Klaus G. Troitzsch

Institute for IS Research

Research Group Modelling and Simulation

Digital Rights Management

Virtual Goods beyond Digital Rights Management

Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Grimm

Institute for IS Research

Research group IT-Risk-Management

Internationational Management

Prof. Dr. Gianfranco Walsh

Before joining the University of Koblenz-Landau in 2006 as a Professor of

Marketing and Electronic Retailing, Gianfranco Walsh was a Senior

Lecturer in Marketing with a British university. He is also a Visiting

Professor in the University of Strathclyde Business School's Department of

Marketing.

SUMMER ACADEMY 2009 ORGANISATION TEAM

OFFICERS

Prof. Harald Von Kortzfleisch

Mario Schaarschmidt

Sabine Hulstrunk

Students

Sarah winkler

Agnes Kwindzinski

Anne Reuschenback

Maria Solowejschik

Dennis Bol

Monique Vincon

Thomas Andernach

Stefan Olschenwski

SOCIAL PROGRAMS

During the Summer Academy organizers manage to organize a series of social programs for students.

After much academic works and brainstorming students also enjoyed the various social programs which

were organized through the hardworking Summer Academy Project Team. The social programs were

organized as follows;

June, 29th

2009

Department Get-together; At the first evening of the Summer Academy there was a nice get together

which was organized by the Summer Academy Team in conjunction with the Computer Science

Department of the University of Koblenz. It was heavily attended by academics, staff and students from

both Germany and International.

Students enjoying the get-together

July, 2nd

2009

Bar Hopping;

In order to have an enjoyable start to the Summer Academy students had an introduction to Night life in

Koblenz. So with the support of the Summer Academy Project team we embarked on a Bar hopping

exercise where students had the opportunity to visit interesting club’s in Koblenz such as “Bar Rock”,

“Agostea” and “Parler”. Students really enjoyed night life in Koblenz and witnessed what Koblenz had to

offer and where we can have fun apart from our studies in the University.

Students @ Bar Rock

From Left to Right;

Sanjeev (India), Olea Sikora (Moldova), Sarfo Baffour (Ghana), Thomas Adernach (Germany) & Agnes

Kwinzinski (Germany)

From Left to right Kofi Eric, Martin Danso ,Patrick Schober, Christiano, Emmanuel Chapman, Frederico,

Ankit, Mahmud, Sarfo, Manuel, Gernot & Ismail Hamdy

July 8th

2009

Social Trip;

On this trip students enjoyed the beauty of the Rhine Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site). We also

enjoyed the beautiful castles, medieval townships and the famous Loreley -Rock, Rhine Valley. We also

made a trip by boat and a bus which gave us an impression of the culture of the people in the region as

well as enjoying the beauty of the Rhine and Mosel Rivers. It was indeed a fantastic experience.

Students on board a boat on the Rhine River

Students enjoying the Festung Ehrenbreitstein (fourth from left: Mitchris from Ghana)

From left to right Seth Opare, Sarfo Baffour, Ankit & Emmanuel Chapman @ Deuchtse Eck

July 11th

2009

Cologne Trip;

We also had the opportunity to visit other cities other than Koblenz during our stay in Germany. A trip

was organized by the Summer Academy Project team to Cologne. After some sightseeing and shopping

in the city of Cologne we also had the opportunity to witness a breath taking event in Cologne which

was known as “Cologne Lights Up”. During this event the whole city appeared in a great atmosphere of

light.

Students in Cologne

Cologne Getting ready to Light Up

Students @ Cologne Lights Up

Students enjoying themselves in Cologne

July, 13th

-15th

2009

Brussels Trip;

As part of the course “International Economics” students embarked on a visit to Belgium’s capital which

gave them detailed insight into the workings of the European Union. Besides the EU headquarters,

Brussels also host the NATO headquarters. The tour to Brussels also included visits of key EU institutions

such as the EU Parliament and other offices of the EU.

Students @ EU Headquarters in Brussels

July 24th

2009

Farewell Barbecue;

After four weeks of interesting studies, series of assignments and examinations as well as a lot of fun, it

was time to say goodbye. On this day the barbecue was attended by a most of the students who

attended the 2009 Summer Academy as well as academic staff and the hardworking Summer Academy

Project Team. Students shared their last experiences and said good bye to each other. It was really a sad

moment as we had to leave our friends and professors who had become an integral part of our

academic and social life.

Academic Staff, Project Team @Summer Academy Farewell Barbecue

Conclusion

In conclusion, we the students from Ghana who attended the 2009 Summer Academy at University of

Koblenz were really privileged to have been given this opportunity by DAAD and the University of

Koblenz to attend this fantastic academic program. It was indeed an opportunity of a life time which

cannot be expressed in words but through the experiences we enjoyed in the course of the program.

The friendship we have gained and the experiences we have gathered will no doubt prepare us for the

future so that we can contribute towards the development and well being of our societies.

We sincerely express our appreciation to the DAAD and the University of Koblenz for given us this

opportunity. Special thanks also go to the Summer Academy Project Team, the Staff and students of the

University of Koblenz for making the program a success. We hope to be back again in bigger medium.

The 2009 University of Koblenz Summer Academy Family