Accra Metropolitan University (Accra Met) and the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) have joined an elite consortium of universities and student organizations in securing a roughly €500,000 European Union-funded project—Next Level Skills for Student Leaders (NELS). The initiative aims at empowering 2,500 student leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe over the next three years.
NELS is a transformative initiative designed to enhance the leadership capabilities of student leaders across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. The project cultivates engaged citizenship, critical thinking, media literacy, leadership, and effective communication among young leaders in higher education.
The project is tailored for elected student representatives and students passionate about shaping the future of higher education. It provides practical leadership training and cross-cultural dialogue to equip students with the skills needed to lead in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.
The programme is structured around three core modules:
Future Challenges – Addressing global megatrends, digital transformation in education, and sustainability.
Next Level Skills – Developing advanced leadership and inclusive communication, including virtual engagement.
New Ways of Student Organizing – Exploring democratic engagement, values in higher education, and effective networking.
Through immersive virtual sessions, cross-continental collaborations, and expert facilitation, participants will earn micro-credentials (ECTS)—providing academic recognition for their achievements.
Global Collaboration and Academic Excellence
The NELS initiative is spearheaded by a coalition of leading universities and student organizations, drawing on decades of expertise in student engagement, digital learning, and civic participation.
The Ghanaian delegation at the project’s official kick-off meeting in Brussels, 12-15 March 2025, included Naomi Alabi (Esq.) and Mr. Enoch Adamah, both of Accra Metropolitan University; Prof. Bert Boadi-Kusi, who led the delegation from University of Cape Coast (UCC, GH), and Prof. Goski Alabi and Prof. Teresa Mwoma, representing the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE).
Consortium Partners
The Consortium Partners are Applied Sciences Upper Austria (Coordinator, AT), University Duisburg Essen (Germany, DE),
University of The Gambia (UTG, GM), Accra Metropolitan University (Accra Met, GH), and University of Ljubljana (Slovenia, SL).
The rest are KCA University (Kenya, KE), University of Cape Coast (UCC, GH), African Council for Distance Education (ACDE), All-African Students Union (AASU), European Students Union (ESU) and Global Students Forum (GSF).
A New Era of Student Leadership in Africa and Beyond
By harnessing digital platforms, student engagement networks, and cross-border collaboration, NELS is redefining leadership development for the next generation. With Accra Metropolitan University and ACDE at the forefront, Ghana is poised to play a pivotal role in elevating student leadership and fostering inclusive education.
