An Eleven-member Danish Research team comprising scholars of diverse professional backgrounds has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa. The cause for their mission was to discuss and find out various projects that the Danish government has funded, how far the University has got to in the areas of research as far as the development of the nation is concerned.
The leader of the team, H. Vecher Marcussen, University of Roskilde, Denmark pledged that since the school places greater emphasis on research; they would continue to offer their support to the University. He hoped the collaboration would mutually benefit the two parties and grow from strength to strength. Other members of the team ceased the opportunity to ask questions concerning collaborative research and other areas.
The Registrar, Mr. Kobby Yebo-Okrah who welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Vice Chancellor expressed profound gratitude for the immense support, the Danish government has offered the University, especially in the area of research. He said, “as the Premier University of Science and Technology, research is very vital to our cause so the University has partnered with a number of universities and Research Institutions both within and outside the country for joint and collaborative activities.” He made mention of some of the partners as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Soil Research Institute, Crop Research Institute, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, USAID, African Economic Research Consortium, Twente University, Erasmus Mundus, University of Lagos, Association of Commonwealth Universities, among others.
He added that, each of its six colleges has at least a Research centre attached to it. He cited some of the research centres to include: Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD), Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Institute of Human Settlements Research, Centre for Biodiversity Utilisation and Development (CBUD), Centre for Cultural and African Studies, among others.
He stressed that, Research requires time, effort, and funds to arrive at the evidence or facts one needs to establish. “Government alone cannot fund it; as a result, the University encourages the individuals and Colleges to scout for fundings to support their research programmes” he concluded.
Dr. Daniel Inkoom of the Department of Planning on his part, said that, currently, many joint and collaborative researches that have been initiated have been rendered handicapped due to the lack of funds. He therefore called on other bodies to come to their aid so they can expand the scope of research.
