University of Education, Winneba hosts 21st Africa Regional Workshop

The University of Education Winneba (UEW)-Ghana, Faculty of Educational Studies is hosting the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD).

The workshop is being held under the theme: “Researching into adaptive behaviours in the context of changing their disciplinary and multicultural approaches for early career scholars in Africa”.

It brought together over 65 research scholars with some delegates coming from Zimbabwe, Cameroun, Nigeria, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and other countries.

The main objective of the four-day workshop is to provide a forum where early career researchers will meet and learn from senior scholars.

It is to also identify gaps in research on adaptive and maladaptive development in contexts of change and to stimulate research to address those gaps.

It was organized by UEW in collaboration with International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD).

Reverend Father Professor Anthony Afful-Broni, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor of UEW, addressing participants, said what the society needs are researches that provide insights into new developmental trajectories emerging as a result of interactions between cultures.

He said effective research on urbanization, economic development, environmental degradation and violent has led to the emergence of developmental contexts placing individuals at risk of developing “maladaptive behaviours” and requires multidisciplinary, international and interdisciplinary cooperative approaches.

Prof Anne Petersen from University of Michigan U.S.A said ISSBD was established in 1969 for global reach and research partnership with international founding members for the purpose of advancing global human developmental research.

She said it currently has about 1000 members in 88 countries of which more than 25 percent of the members are Africans.

Prof Charity Sylvia Akotia, who chaired the ceremony, said limitations in adaptive behaviour affect one’s daily life, one’s ability to respond to life changes and environmental demands.

Thus the need to research into adaptive behaviour within the context of change as this will help us better understand and help those who are needy, she said.