Two awards for LMU at the U7+ Challenge in Ghana

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At the end of May 2026, Rosa, a student in the el mundo certificate program, and Konstantin, a Master’s student in Physical Geography, represented LMU Munich at the U7+ Student Challenge hosted by Ashesi University near Accra, Ghana. LMU is a member of the international U7+ Alliance of World Universities, a network of leading universities committed to addressing global challenges. Rosa and Konstantin represented LMU in the field of Climate Change and Sustainability, gaining a truly unique international learning experience.

Under this year’s theme, “Global Anchor Institutions: Harnessing University Networks for Local Resilience,”students from universities around the world collaborated in interdisciplinary teams. Their task was to develop innovative projects that position universities as drivers of sustainable development and societal transformation. The challenge combined online preparation phases with a five-day in-person event in Ghana and fostered collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and national borders.

A particularly exciting outcome was that two of the winning projects included LMU students. Both Rosa’s and Konstantin’s teams impressed the jury and were recognized among the winners of this year’s Student Challenge. As a result, LMU was exceptionally well represented among the successful teams.

Beyond the project work itself, the international exchange was one of the most memorable aspects of the experience. Participants engaged with highly motivated students from a wide range of academic disciplines and cultural backgrounds. This diversity proved invaluable for collaborative work on sustainability-related challenges. Discussions explored different perspectives on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), local challenges faced by different regions of the world, and the question of how sustainability initiatives can be designed globally while remaining effective in local contexts.

The LMU students also highlighted the excellent organization of the event and the warm hospitality of the hosts. Rosa summarized her experience enthusiastically: “The event was truly wonderful – I would do it again anytime.”

After the challenge, Rosa and Konstantin took the opportunity to further explore Ghana. Their travels included Berekuso, Accra, Cape Coast with its historic Cape Coast Castle and Kakum National Park, as well as the coastal region around Ampenyi and Elmina. These additional experiences deepened the intercultural exchange and made the journey an enriching experience both academically and personally.