The Department of Nursing of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, held its maiden Postgraduate Nursing Seminar/Exhibition of Research Proposals on the 7th March 2024. The one-day event saw fourteen (14) presentations from postgraduate students, supervised by seven (7) members of faculty. The poster presentations were on health themes such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, hepatitis, emergency care, contraception, childcare, rehabilitation, health awareness, and education, among others.

In her opening remarks, the Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Professor Veronica M. Dzomeku, said the Department had conducted research over the years. Students and faculty have worked on proposals over the years contributing to academic discourse and finding solutions to health challenges in the country. She hinted that before the seminar, the students had done PowerPoint presentations, and the introduction of the poster presentation would help build their research and public speaking skills. According to her, the event will also allow faculty and staff to critique the work of students and offer the necessary guidance and correction. Professor Dzomeku added that the School has graduated more than one hundred students over the past five years since the inception of the Postgraduate Nursing Programme about six years ago. She revealed that the Department offers both Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degrees. She noted that the Department has produced graduates to beef up the workforce needs of the health sector. “It is also gratifying to note that some of the students are now faculty members of KNUST and others serving as faculty members in other universities in the country and outside Ghana. The faculty together with its students have published in about thirty peer-reviewed journals.

In his submission, the Provost of the College of Health Science, Professor Christian Agyare, said as future academics and practitioners, such academic exercise will enable students to prepare and participate in research conferences and execute their own poster presentations and research. He continued that since the event is more of a review; it will help students correct their works and embark on their research activities within the stipulated time to enable them to present quality research output.

The event was under the Chairmanship of Dr. Felix Apiribu, Head of the Department of Nursing.