COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University announced it has partnered with the U.S. Army Reserve's 412th Civil Affairs Battalion to help prepare military personnel for an upcoming deployment to Africa. 

The CAS-CIBER African Seminar is held by OSU's Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and the Center for African Studies (CAS) in partnership with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion. The seminar is in the winter and spring, and it focuses on conflict resolution, peacebuilding and the political, economic and social landscapes of various African nations. 

“We value very much all the partnerships with different institutions across the state,” said Kaya Ṣahin, Ohio State’s vice provost for global strategies and international affairs and a professor of history. “This is a great example of one of our study centers helping our state, helping people who work for our state to receive training that could not be received elsewhere.”

The seminar is designed to help military personnel understand environments in which they will be stationed.

“This seminar is, in part, the fulfillment of what we promise to do, our major mission in terms of serving the country, serving the state of Ohio, being a land-grant university,” said CAS Director Ousman Murzik Kobo Kobo, an associate professor of history. “It’s also a way of demonstrating our relevance.”

Capt. Patrick MacMullen with the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion said the seminar helps service members be more ready and have a global understanding of where they're going. 

“I work hand in hand with the rest of our staff to coordinate, to make sure that these types of events are facilitated and that they are confirmed on the schedule for our battle assemblies,” he said. The seminar helps the battalion members “obtain the knowledge that they need in preparation for upcoming missions this year and next year.”

More details can be found here.