G-WAC Summer School 2026 10–19 September 2026 KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Modelling for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Build context-specific infectious disease modelling skills for Ghana and similar African settings — from R foundations and compartmental models to calibration, scenarios, and policy-ready communication — through teaching and hands-on exercises on the Ebola outbreak in the DRC.

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10 Programme days
60h Estimated workload
2 Modular parts
CPD KNUST certificate

At a glance

What to expect

A modular CPD short course that builds modelling capacity where generic global models are weakest — with labs, mentorship, and a shared G-WAC opening alongside One Health on Monday 14 September.

  • 10–19 September 2026
  • KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
  • 08:30–17:00 GMT

Format

10-day intensive at KNUST

  • Part I essentials · 10–12 September
  • Part II advanced & projects · 14–19 September
  • Teaching days 08:30–17:00 GMT · labs & socials

Skills

Methods you will practise

Reproducible R workflows through to scenario analysis — grounded in West African outbreak contexts.

  • R, R Markdown, git & GitHub
  • SIR / SEIR / SEIRV and R₀
  • Calibration, scenarios & health economics
Night view of the KNUST Impact Building facade on the Kumasi campus Venue

Venue

KNUST Impact Building

Main sessions and lodging on the Kumasi campus, with labs and satellite teaching nearby. Airport transfers for invited participants.

Campus KNUST CHS
Stay Impact Building
Opening 14 Sep with One Health
Transfers Arranged for invited participants
Workshop participants collaborating during an MPPR session at KNUST

On campus

Hands-on modelling on campus

Labs, mentorship, and group work in the Impact Building — connecting methods to real outbreak briefs.

R labs Every teaching day
Mentored Capstone projects
Network MPPR community

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Understand the concepts of infectious disease transmission and control

Enhance knowledge about data sources, data access, and data curation in (West) Africa

Design, implement, and use context-specific mathematical models in R

Improve communication of modelling output for decision-makers

Join a network of disease modellers with an interest in West Africa

From call to campus

Programme timeline

Place confirmations are underway ahead of the September workshop — here’s how the 2026 cycle unfolds.

You are here Departure

Milestone 12 of 12

Applications open Complete
Applications close Complete
Shortlisting Complete
Invitation & pre-exam Complete
Place confirmed Complete
Arrival in Kumasi Complete
Part I begins Complete
Part I on campus Complete
Joint opening & Part II Complete
Part II on campus Complete
Presentations & certificates Complete
Departure Now
Now

Departure

Participants depart after the Friday close of the programme.

11 completed milestones Show earlier steps
  1. Complete
    Applications open

    G-WAC publishes the call for the MPPR modular short course. Eligible applicants submit via the official opportunities channel.

  2. Complete
    Applications close

    The application window closes. Late submissions are not accepted once the call deadline has passed.

  3. Complete
    Shortlisting

    Applications are reviewed. A shortlist of candidates is prepared for invitation to the selection assessment.

  4. Complete
    Invitation & pre-exam

    Shortlisted applicants receive an invitation to complete the timed pre-examination online (modelling questions and practical R exercises).

  5. Complete
    Place confirmed

    Successful applicants are confirmed for the September workshop and receive access to course materials.

  6. Complete
    Arrival in Kumasi

    Invited participants arrive at KNUST. Airport transfers and lodging in the Impact Building are arranged for those confirmed for the course.

  7. Complete
    Part I begins

    Essentials teaching starts with R and reproducible workflows.

  8. Complete
    Part I on campus

    Three teaching days covering R, infectious disease modelling, simulation, and extending SIR. Sunday 13 September is a rest day.

  9. Complete
    Joint opening & Part II

    Official opening ceremony together with One Health, then advanced sessions on model calibration, fitting, and validation.

  10. Complete
    Part II on campus

    Calibration, guest seminars, scenario modelling, health economics, science communication, and mentored Ebola in the DRC projects.

  11. Complete
    Presentations & certificates

    Group presentations, course evaluation, and certificate award ceremony with networking dinner.

Curriculum

Programme structure

Two connected modules: master the essentials (~18 hours), then apply advanced methods for pandemic preparedness and response (~42 hours).

01

Part I · 10–12 September · ~18 hours

Essentials of disease modelling

Introduce the concept of modelling and its applicability — R foundations, core epidemic models, simulation, and guided exercises. Sunday 13 September is a rest day.

  1. Thu 10

    Introductions · R crash course & R Markdown · git & GitHub

  2. Fri 11

    Infectious diseases & control · modelling I–II — SIR / SEIR / SEIRV, R₀, and R practicals

  3. Sat 12

    Simulation in R · extending SIR for metapopulations and risk groups

  4. Sun 13

    Rest day (meals & socials only)

02

Part II · 14–19 September · ~42 hours

Modelling for pandemic preparedness and response

Open jointly with One Health, then build practical skills through calibration, scenarios, economics, communication, and a mentored group project.

  1. Mon 14

    Joint opening with OneHealth · calibration, fitting & validation · R practicals

  2. Tue 15

    Guest seminars · health economics · scenario modelling practicals

  3. Wed 16

    Scenario modelling · science & policy communication · Mpox overview & project kickoff

  4. Thu–Fri 17–18

    Mentored Ebola in the DRC projects · presentations · certificate dinner

  5. Sat 19

    Participants depart

Cartographic visualization of the Democratic Republic of the Congo study region
Capstone · Part II Presentations · Fri 18 Sep 2026

Capstone project

Ebola in the DRC

In the final days, teams calibrate and explore outbreak scenarios, then present modelling results that connect methods to response decisions.

  • Apply calibration and scenario workflows to a real outbreak brief
  • Work in mentored groups with facilitators from the MPPR network
  • Present findings on Friday 18 September
Explore projects →

Certification

Certification

Upon successfully completing all course modules, participants receive a certificate issued by KNUST, accredited for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points and recognised by (health) professional bodies in Ghana and elsewhere.

Sample KNUST CPD certificate for Modelling for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (MPPR) 2026

Programme schedule

Times in GMT · KNUST, Kumasi

Part I: Essentials of Disease Modelling

1Thu
10 September 2026
Introductions, R crash course & reproducible workflows
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 09:30 Introduction to MPPR
  • Participant introductions
  • meet the facilitating team
  • introduction to the learning platform
  • expectations on AI use.
 James Azam & all facilitators.
09:30 – 13:00 Crash course in R programming

Objects, functions, loops, code optimisation, debugging/profiling, writing efficient R code, and introduction to R Markdown for reproducible research. Coffee break 10:30–11:00.

 Main: Vincent Donkoh & Opanin Adu Agyei.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 R, git and GitHub application
  • Introduction to version control using git and GitHub
  • using R with git & GitHub
  • best practices for reproducible scientific computing.
 Main: Vincent Donkoh & Opanin Adu Agyei. Supports: Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 17:00 R, git and GitHub application (continued)
  • Using R with git & GitHub
  • reproducible scientific computing practices.
 Main: Vincent Donkoh & Opanin Adu Agyei. Supports: Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
2Fri
11 September 2026
Basics of infectious disease modelling
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 10:30 An overview of infectious diseases and control measures

Overview of infectious diseases and control measures.

 Main: Michael Owusu. Supports: All faculty and tutors.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Basics of infectious disease modelling I
  • Constructing compartmental models (SIR, SEIR, SEIRV)
  • understanding and calculating the basic reproduction number (R₀).
 Main: James Azam. Supports: All faculty and tutors.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Basics of infectious disease modelling II
  • Compartmental models (SIR, SEIR, SEIRV)
  • R₀
  • incorporating simple stochasticity (transmission events).
 R practicals supervision: All faculty and tutors.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 17:00 R practicals — infectious disease modelling

Hands-on R practicals on compartmental models and R₀.

 R practicals supervision: All faculty and tutors.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
3Sat
12 September 2026
Simulation & extending the SIR model
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 10:30 Basics of infectious disease modelling — simulation in R
  • Introduction to model simulation in R
  • understanding model outputs.
 Main: James Azam. Supports: Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Opanin Adu Agyei, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Model simulation in R (continued)

Simulation workflows and interpreting outputs in R.

 Main: James Azam. Supports: Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Opanin Adu Agyei, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Extending the SIR model
  • Spatio-temporal models (metapopulation models, etc.)
  • modelling different risk-profile metapopulations
  • model simulation and interpretation in R.
 Main: Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia. Supports & exercise supervision: Vincent Donkoh, Opanin Adu Agyei, Andrzej Jarynowski, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 17:00 R practicals — extending the SIR model
  • R practicals on extending the SIR model
  • discussion.
 Main: Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia. Supports & exercise supervision: Vincent Donkoh, Opanin Adu Agyei, Andrzej Jarynowski.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
4Sun
13 September 2026
Rest day
Time Topics Facilitators
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.

Part II: Advanced disease modelling for pandemic preparedness and response

5Mon
14 September 2026
Official opening & model calibration
Time Topics Facilitators
09:00 – 10:30 Official Opening Ceremony (together with the One Health Course)
  • Welcome remarks
  • introduction of facilitators
  • introduction to G-WAC
  • chairperson’s remark
  • group photograph.
 Chair: Prof. Fred Stephen Sarfo, Provost, CHS KNUST. Speakers: Prof. (Mrs) Linda B. Debrah, Director, G-WAC, KNUST; Prof. Wilm Quentin, Director, G-WAC, TU Berlin. Moderator: Dr. Michael Owusu, G-WAC KNUST.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Basics of model calibration / fitting / validation
  • Types of data needed to inform different models
  • overview of common model fitting approaches.
 Main: James Azam. Supports: Vincent Donkoh, Andrzej Jarynowski, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Model calibration / fitting / validation — R methods

Implementation of common fitting methods using R and R packages.

 Main: James Azam. Supports: Vincent Donkoh, Andrzej Jarynowski, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 17:00 R practicals — model calibration

Hands-on calibration exercises in R.

 Main: James Azam. Supports: Vincent Donkoh, Andrzej Jarynowski, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
6Tue
15 September 2026
Seminars, health economics & scenario practicals
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 09:00 Midway feedback and evaluations

Live discussion of Days 1–5 daily feedback — what to keep, what to change. No extra form.

 Facilitating team and participants.
09:00 – 09:50 Seminar — scenario modelling in practice (COVID-19 in South Africa)

Case study of COVID-19 scenario modelling in South Africa.

 Prof. Gesine Meyer-Rath (University of the Witwatersrand / Boston University).
09:50 – 10:00 Quick bio break
10:00 – 11:00 Seminar — modelling for outbreak response decision-making (Ebola in the DRC)

Case study of modelling for outbreak response decision-making during Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

 Dr. Nick Davis (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine).
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 – 13:00 Incorporating health economics into epidemic models
  • Budgets and resource quantification
  • cost analysis
  • economic evaluation (cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-outcome analysis).
 Main: Brian Adu Asare. Supports: Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Overview of scenario modelling

Relevance of scenario modelling and sensitivity analyses to quantify uncertainty in parameters and outcomes.

 Supports: Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 17:00 Scenario modelling practicals

Hands-on scenario modelling practicals.

 Supports: Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
7Wed
16 September 2026
Scenario modelling, science communication & project kickoff
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 10:30 Overview of scenario modelling

Relevance of scenario modelling and sensitivity analyses to quantify uncertainty in parameters and outcomes.

 Main: Andrzej Jarynowski.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Scenario modelling (continued)

Continued scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis.

 Main: Andrzej Jarynowski.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Basics of science and policy communication in modelling

Science and policy communication in the context of modelling.

 Main: Daniel Opoku & Daniel Boateng.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 18:00 Mpox project overview & group projects kickoff (Ebola in the DRC)
  • Overview of last year’s Mpox modelling projects
  • Ebola in the DRC expectations, group allocations, and projects commence.
 Main: Andrzej Jarynowski (Mpox overview); Main: James Azam (group projects). Supports: all facilitators and mentors.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
8Thu
17 September 2026
Group projects — Ebola in the DRC
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 10:30 Group projects — Ebola in the DRC (morning)

Mentored group modelling projects.

 Supervision: James Azam, Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Group projects — Ebola in the DRC (morning continued)

Mentored group modelling projects.

 Supervision: James Azam, Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:00 Group projects — Ebola in the DRC (afternoon)

Mentored group modelling projects.

 Supervision: James Azam, Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
15:00 – 15:30 Bio break
15:30 – 17:00 Group projects — Ebola in the DRC (afternoon continued)

Mentored group modelling projects.

 Supervision: James Azam, Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia, Opanin Adu Agyei.
18:00 – 20:00 Dinner & socials (indoor games)

Evening networking and team building.
9Fri
18 September 2026
Projects, presentations & certificate dinner
Time Topics Facilitators
08:30 – 10:30 Group projects — Ebola in the DRC (morning)

Mentored group modelling projects.

 Supervision: James Azam, Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Opanin Adu Agyei, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 13:00 Group projects — Ebola in the DRC (morning continued)

Mentored group modelling projects.

 Supervision: James Azam, Andrzej Jarynowski, Vincent Donkoh, Opanin Adu Agyei, Charlène Naomie Tedto Mfangnia.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:30 Group presentations & course evaluation
  • Group presentations
  • complete the End-of-course evaluation in Moodle
  • closing.
 All groups · course facilitators.
15:30 – 17:30 Prepare for dinner
17:30 – 20:00 Certificate award ceremony & networking dinner
  • Registration
  • welcome
  • opening remark
  • certificate awards
  • official group photo
  • dinner & networking. Inauguration of new members into the G-WAC Network of Modelers for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
 Host: Dr. Linda B. Debrah & Dr. Michael Owusu. Special guest: Prof. Fred Stephen Sarfo, Provost, CHS KNUST. Moderator: Dr. Michael Owusu.
10Sat
19 September 2026
Participants depart
Time Topics Facilitators
08:00 – 12:00 Participants depart

Check-out and departure after the close of the programme on Friday evening.