An important component of the CDD strategy through the fundamental unit approach is to build strong partnership with Academia in the target country so as to bring to bear the vast human resources and research potential of students in the tertiary institutions. By this initiative, CDDF establishes Community Directed Development Student Pioneers (CDD Student Pioneers), as a means to stimulate human capacity building in schools and communities and for promoting efficiency within the organization of Community Development Associations (CDAs).

Various researchers, lecturers and technical staff in Universities, Colleges, Schools Faculties, Departments and Institutions in Ghana have joined the concept of CDD Research Network and are supporting disease control and development in communities through research and awareness creation by CDD Student Pioneers. Sixty three (63) student pioneers have been recruited from University of Ghana (Zoology Department, n=21; Sociology Department, n=1), and Accra Polytechnic (Science Laboratory Technology, n=40) since 2005. Eighteen (18) out of the 63 students comprising 9 BSc and 9 Higher National Diplomas (HND) were recruited in 2005 and completed research on parasitological aspects of disease control and environmental sanitation. The remaining 45 students 13 BSc, 31 HND and 1 MPhil are conducting research to collect data on prevalence, intensity and distribution of STH, schistosomiasis, intestinal protozoa and malaria in support of monitoring and evaluation of the control programme. The MPhil research is focused on determining the best timing for screening and deworming of parasitic diseases in the coastal savannah zone of Ghana.

The CDD Student Pioneer strategy is to utilize students to advance progress within CDA Task Forces. This is in line with the CDD idea of harnessing the potential of society to bring to bear the hidden possibilities of poor African communities through the collective effort of the Identifiable Groups. In this respect, intellectual capabilities are utilized to strengthen the CDA in a sustainable way. Initially, polytechnic students in science laboratory technology conduct research in support of community effort to control diseases by assisting in baseline data collection through screening and deworming in schools and communities. Also, through their research, biology, nursing and medical students guide, the CDA Task Forces on health issues such as Screening and treatment and Health Education to execute their activities.

Students being trained in other disciplines such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, agriculture, engineering, linguistics, art and law who join CDD Student Pioneers conduct research in collaboration with community-based PCA Task Forces to address the concerns of the communities and also help to identify immediate needs that require intervention through research. In this plan, the gap between research and development is rapidly closed, as findings and recommendations from focused research carried out at community level are more easily implemented. Furthermore, data collected by CDD Student Pioneers will strengthen national databases and provide realistic options for development and implementation of development and intervention strategies.

CDD Student Pioneers live in the communities with families and join Task Force members to execute activities. Students from different communities, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds have unique opportunity to experience and understand the problems of rural people. Besides, students have the chance to share ideas with their age groups in a more intimate and purposeful way. Through these interactions, community-based groups become more functional and improve efficiency and effectiveness.