The Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, launched the GRASAG Research Fund (GReF) on Tuesday, 2nd April 2024, on the theme “Igniting Innovation through Research Excellence”.
The President of the Graduate Students' Association of Ghana (GRASAG), Mr. Felix Kofi Adusei, commended the preceding Executives of GRASAG for the 2022/2023 Academic Year for conceptualising the idea. He conveyed his excitement regarding the launch of the research fund, highlighting its objective to enhance research efforts among graduate students. The GRASAG Research Fund encompasses two primary initiatives: the GRASAG Research Support Hub and the GRASAG Research Support Grant. This initiative is not only aimed to provide financial assistance but also offer mentorship and technical guidance to students as they embark on their research endeavours.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson expressed her excitement about this initiative and stated that the initiative aligns with KNUST’s status as a research-intensive institution. She stated that KNUST places high importance on research and strives to proffer solutions to challenges through research. She commended the Executives for the initiative and hoped it would add to the research efforts of the University.
The Director of the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), KNUST, Professor Phillip Antwi-Agyei articulated the principal objective of the research fund, which is to provide financial assistance to graduate students actively engaged in research endeavours. He delineated several pivotal eligibility prerequisites for the GReF, including a minimum Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 55, payment of more than 50% of fees, and enrolment on a full-time basis in a graduate programme. Professor Antwi-Agyei underscored that the application procedure will be exclusively conducted online to facilitate accessibility. Furthermore, he emphasised that the GReF has earmarked Two Hundred and Ten Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵210,000) for this initiative, with the intention of disbursing awards to seventy (70) postgraduate students, each recipient receiving Three Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵3,000).
Professor Eric Kwabena Forkuo, the Director of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), highlighted the significance of graduate research in contributing to the country's socioeconomic development and improving KNUST's research capacity. He noted the necessity of adequate funding for graduate research expenses and emphasised that a lack of funding could impede research progress. He stressed that the inauguration of the GReF as a proactive step toward addressing such challenge. Highlighting data inequalities that indicate a larger proportion of males pursuing postgraduate programmes, Professor Forkuo used the opportunity to advocate for more female participation in postgraduate programmes.
The Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs (DoSA), Professor Wilson Agyei Agyare, expressed commendation towards the successive GRASAG Executives for their innovative initiatives and underscored the substantial benefits that the GReF would offer postgraduate students. Professor Agyare advocated for the sustainability of the Fund, highlighting its potential to provide significant assistance and new opportunities for the academic and research pursuits of graduate students. He affirmed the unwavering support of DoSA towards the GReF initiative.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Owusu-Dabo, speaking on the theme “Igniting Innovation through Research Excellence,” applauded the Executives for their commendable initiative. He highlighted the fundamental value of research as a channel for formalised curiosity and emphasised its pivotal role in pushing the frontiers of human knowledge. He underlined the importance of research excellence in fostering meaningful connections between academia and the real world. “By bridging the academia with the real world, we can ensure that our research has a meaningful impact and strives for positive change,” he noted. “By fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange, we can accelerate the pace of innovation and address global challenges more effectively,” he added. He pledged his support to the GReF with a substantial amount of Ten Thousand USD ($10,000) and called on other principal investigators to follow suit.