KNUST GRASAG offers grants to 51 graduate students

The Graduate Students Association of Ghana of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GRASAG-KNUST) have offered funds to some 51 graduate students under the Graduate Research Fund dubbed GReF to support their research projects.

The 51 students were selected from a total of 184 applications received, having gone through a rigorous review and screening process.

Speaking at the award ceremony at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Vice Chancellor of the KNUST, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson underscored the significance of research.

“The problems and challenges of our society are our problems as researchers. It is incumbent on us to undertake research and profess solutions to this myriad of problems. As a leading science and technology institution, relevant research is the first pillar of our institution, and our aim is to improve the quality and standard of life. So as researchers, let’s not keep our findings in the publications but they should be made public and useful to society,” she said.

She challenged the awardees to justify their qualifications for the award scheme by undertaking research projects that will compel development.

“Besides the human resource, the next relevant item needed to undertake a research project is the funds. We have provided you with the funds today and we expect that you undertake groundbreaking research to prove that you went through a rigorous screening process to qualify for the funding.

I will congratulate you, but I want to leave you with one request. The grants and support given to you is to let you know that the school and management is interested in your research work, and I want to encourage you to do excellent research works. Remember that to whom much is given, much is expected.

I will also laud the GRASAG executive committee for coming up with GReF. That is a well thought-through initiative and Management is ever ready to support this initiative and ensure its sustainability,” she entreated.

President of GRASAG-KNUST, Felix Kofi Adusei highlighted the need for GReF.

“This fund is set up to financially support graduate students when it comes to their research endeavours and it is also aimed at establishing the GRASAG research hub in KNUST. The hub just as the awards scheme will support graduate students in terms of research skills, resources and financial support when it comes to their projects.

We can all attest to the importance of research when Covid struck. So, this project is to put researchers in the position to come up with ideas and solutions to likely problems that may come up in the near future. The awardees are therefore expected to come out with research results that add value to our Ghanaian society and the world at large.”

The GRASAG Research Fund (GReF) is a first-of-its-kind initiative in KNUST established under the leadership of the 31st GRASAG-KNUST Executive Committee.

The funds for the first edition shall be paid in two trenches as a way to monitor the progress of these research projects by the students.

The 51 awardees comprised of 8 Master of Science (MSc.) students, 37 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) students and 6 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students.

By Issah Zakariah/ Abigail Obikyere Seyram/Akoma Fm/3news.com

The post KNUST GRASAG offers grants to 51 graduate students first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story