The workshop is being held under the theme: “Researching into adaptive behaviors 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 for 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 Behavioral 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 development “maladaptive behaviors” and requires a 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 adoptive behavior affect one’s daily life, one’s ability to respond to life changes and environmental demands.

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