Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in collaboration with Danish Universities has officially launched a two-year project “Building Stronger Universities (BSU II) in Developing Countries”. The project which commenced in 2014 and is expected to end in 2016 is being sponsored by the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA). The objective of the launching was “Support KNUST in Creating an Enabling Environment for High Quality and Relevant Research, and Research-based education that will promote sustainable technological and socio-economic development in Ghana and Africa as a whole.”
Professor Robert Clement Abaidoo, Dean of Graduate School, addressed the stakeholders present. He observed that the BSU II project would strengthen KNUST’s capacity to deliver quality research and promote postgraduate education. He added that the project looked forward to improving University-wide services to facilitate effective mobilization and effective use of research funds to improve laboratory and library services for researchers. He made mention of four main thematic research areas of the BSU II project: Climate Smart Agriculture and Environmental Management, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation, Health Delivery Systems and University-wide Services and Facilities. “These thematic areas are in relation to current problems the world is going through,” he stated.
He noted that KNUST would develop research proposals and disseminate products through manuscript preparation and publications. Prof. Abaidoo added that KNUST would improve administrative and financial grant management. He remarked that the thirty participants would go through training and mentoring in the research process, that is, the conception of the problem and solution and that participants should be committed for the duration of the programme.
Peter Furu, a representative from the School of Global Health University of Copenhagen, commended KNUST for organizing the launch and noted that it was the hope of DANIDA and Danish universities that the friendship would continue. He further stated that DANIDA had for many years been strengthening the research capacity as a means of promoting development. He pledged the support of Danish Universities and DANIDA for the project.
Professor Samuel Nii Odai, Pro Vice-Chancellor, commended the representatives from the Danish Universities and the external stakeholders for contributing to the development of the project.
Prof. Odai stated that the project was a rare opportunity to enhance closer working relations among researchers and also between researchers and administrators at KNUST. He went on to encourage all the stakeholders to make good use of the opportunity to achieve synergies for enhanced strength and visibility in delivering the University’s mandate.
The Pro Vice Chancellor commended the sponsors for showing trust in KNUST. He continued that the thematic areas were central to KNUST’s mandate and directly addressed the technological and socio-economic challenges facing Ghana. He urged everyone involved in the project to work hard for the success of the BSU II project.
