CONMAT Participatory Video Training Conducted at UBIDS | January 12-30 2026

Wa, Ghana –  30 January 2026-

As part of the implementation of the CONMAT Project – Strengthening Conflict Management and Transformation Studies in Africa, the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) organised an intensive Certificate Course in Participatory Video (PV) Making from 12 to 30 January 2026 at its campus in Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana. This activity formed part of the activities under Work Package 3, which focuses on strengthening practical skills and innovative teaching approaches in conflict management and transformation studies.

The training aimed to enhance the capacity of staff, technicians, and students to use participatory media tools for research, communication, and community engagement. Participatory video is a collaborative filmmaking method that enables communities to document and communicate their own experiences and perspectives. In the context of conflict management and peacebuilding, it is widely used to amplify marginalized voices, encourage dialogue, and support community-based approaches to conflict resolution.

The 18-day intensive course combined theoretical instruction, hands-on practical training, and a final screening of participant-produced films. The theoretical component (9 days) introduced participants to the foundations of participatory video making, including the history and relevance of participatory video, participatory planning, ethical storytelling, script development, storyboarding, consent-led filming, and strategies for screening participatory films in communities.

The practical component (8 days) focused on technical filmmaking skills. Participants received hands-on training in the use of video equipment, camera operation and composition, camera shots and angles, sound recording, lighting techniques, and video editing. These sessions enabled participants to apply theoretical knowledge in a collaborative production environment.

The course concluded with a Participatory Video Screening, which served as the capstone activity of the training. During this session, participants presented short documentary films developed during the practical phase of the course to members of the university community and invited stakeholders.

The training programme was led by Ian Boxill, Professor at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and Adjunct Professor at UBIDS. He was supported by Eka Campbell, an independent filmmaker from the United Kingdom, and Akeem Lee, Instructor and Technical Manager at the Centre for Community Outreach and Development, University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

A total of 22 participants enrolled in the training, including academic staff, technical staff, and students of UBIDS. Out of these, 19 participants successfully completed all course modules and attended at least 80% of the instructional hours, thereby qualifying for certificates of completion.

As part of the practical component and capstone project, participants worked in groups to produce three short documentary films addressing themes related to student resilience and community-based conflict resolution. The documentaries included Beyond the Barrier, which highlights how UBIDS students overcome infrastructural challenges while pursuing their academic goals; Behind the Desk, which portrays the resilience of a student balancing academic studies with employment; and When Conflict Has No Court Case, which explores the work of the Upper West Regional Peace Council in mediating community conflicts outside the formal court system.

The final screening was attended by a cross-section of the university community, including deans, directors, faculty members, staff, students, and other stakeholders.

During the course evaluation session held on the final day, participants reflected on the training experience and discussed potential applications of their newly acquired skills. Proposed follow-up activities included establishing a university multimedia group, producing promotional videos for the Academic Affairs Directorate to support student admissions campaigns, documenting the university’s Field Practical Training Programme, and organising a community film festival on campus.

The training concluded with congratulatory remarks from the Director of International Collaborations and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Arts at UBIDS, who commended participants for successfully completing the course and thanked the facilitators for delivering an engaging and practical training programme. The activity demonstrated the practical contribution of the CONMAT project to strengthening institutional capacity and promoting innovative approaches to teaching, research, and community engagement in conflict management and transformation studies.