The College of Health Sciences (CHS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has organised the maiden edition of the Annual Postgraduate Conference as part of activities to celebrate its Postgraduate Day. The 2-day conference held on 24th-25th May, 2023 was themed: ‘‘Scientific Innovation and Academic Excellence, the Hallmark of graduate education.’’
Stating the purpose of the gathering, the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the conference, Professor Alexander Yaw Debrah noted that research and innovation are fundamental to reducing poverty and building stronger economies and societies, thus, the need to organise the conference to encourage postgraduate students to showcase their research work to the world. He hoped that through the maiden edition and subsequent ones to be organised, postgraduate students will acquire the relevant skills to compete for competitive grants after school.
In his welcome address, the Provost of the CHS, Professor Christian Agyare mentioned that the College is dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation in health sciences to make significant contributions to the world. He thanked the postgraduate students who submitted abstracts and participated in the conference for projecting the development of scientific innovations, new ideas, and academic excellence in research in the field of health sciences as a hallmark of graduate education. He encouraged the students to embrace the spirit of collaboration, respect, and intellectual curiosity as they learn, network, and share experiences with like-minded individuals, to build lasting relationships to create a better world.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, in his keynote address, emphasised that scientific conferences are the ideal platform for graduate students to present and discuss their research with their peers and other experts in their fields. He added that creating an environment that fosters academic excellence is crucial for students to develop their intellectual, social, and ethical growth, and to pursue successful and fulfilling careers. He mentioned that these can be achieved through publishing research papers in reputable journals, applying critical thinking and problem-solving skills, producing original and high-quality research work, understanding the subject matter deeply, applying knowledge in real-world situations, recognition for prestigious academic programmes, scholarships, or competitive grants.
Professor Owusu-Dabo stated that prioritising mentorship, collaboration and embracing diversity and inclusivity is essential for cultivating a culture of scientific innovation and academic excellence. ‘‘As early-career researchers, you may sometimes get distracted by the details of research and theory. However, you should never forget that your work can make a real difference in people’s lives. Whether in developing new treatments for disease, improving public health policies, or advancing the understanding of the natural world, you should always be mindful of the real-world impact of your work and aim to make a positive contribution,’’ he said.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor concluded his address by highlighting the need to foster a culture of creativity, curiosity, flexibility, and collaboration among students and researchers to achieve scientific innovation and academic excellence in graduate education to make Ghana and Africa a hub of scientific innovation and academic excellence for the benefit of humanity. ‘‘We need to invest more in infrastructure, equipment, and training for institutions, and engage more with the local and global communities to address the challenges and opportunities facing our continent. And we need to celebrate and support our innovators and achievers who are making a difference in their fields,’’ Professor Owusu-Dabo emphasised.
The conference saw over 200 registered participants and the display of 48 posters and 30 oral presentations by scientists on related issues. A panel discussion was held for the panellist to share their experiences from previous conferences and seminars that have helped shaped their careers.