Dr. Daniel Odoom, Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), recently led a group of students on a transformative field trip to the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti region.

This trip, which marked the culmination of the students' Communication for Social Change course, aimed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

Accompanied by Dr. Joseph Obeng-Baah, Head of the Department of Communication Studies, and other esteemed faculty members including Dr. Lawrencia Agyepong, Director of the Centre for International Relations, and Prof. Modestus Fosu, Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, the students embarked on the nearly nine-hour journey on Friday, August 9, 2024.

Divided into two groups, the students arrived in Nkwanta South with a mission to assess and engage with local stakeholders on key development issues within the municipality.

Their focus areas included Water and Sanitation, Public Healthcare, Girl Child Education, Tourism, Communication, Child Trafficking, and Teenage Pregnancy.

Under the guidance of their facilitators, the students applied participatory data collection methods, putting their theoretical knowledge into practice.

The field trip was more than just an academic exercise; it was an immersive experience that allowed the students to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for social change in the region.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Felix Owusu-Gyimah, welcomed the group and facilitated their interactions with the community, helping them gather vital data for their projects.

The second day of the trip was spent exploring the natural wonders of the Kyabobo National Park, with the charismatic Municipal Chief Executive once again leading the way.

The students marveled at the park's iconic Breast Mountain and ventured into the Kyabobo Forest Reserve, where they encountered the challenges of the terrain while striving to reach the waterfalls deep within the forest.

Despite the rigorous journey, the students displayed resilience and camaraderie, with those who couldn’t reach the final destination nonetheless finding value in the experience.

The Oti Regional Minister, Daniel Machator, also made a brief visit to engage with the students and facilitators, expressing his appreciation for the selection of the region for such an impactful project.

This field trip, part of UniMAC’s experiential learning strategy, provided the students with hands-on experience in applying communication theories to real-world problems.



AM/KA

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