The first University of Ghana Doctoral School has been held on the theme, “Managing the Doctoral Process”.
The UG Doctoral Schools have been introduced as part of the University's efforts to improve its PhD delivery. These special schools will focus on specific skill gaps and provide in-depth treatment of selected topics to deepen the knowledge of PhD students.
Professor Yaa Ntiamoa- Baidu, UG PhD Programmes Coordinator
Speaking at the opening of the School, Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, UG PhD Programmes Coordinator noted that there are plans to expand to a Doctoral Academy, which will be open to PhD students in other Universities in Ghana and West Africa. She urged the participating PhD students to be open-minded and tap into the wealth of knowledge to be shared at the School.
The Course Instructor for the School and Professor in English and African Studies at the Carleton University Ottawa, Canada, Prof. Pius Adesanmi, observed that most institutions begin PhD programmes without the knowledge of what kind of materials such as text books to use.
Prof. Adesanmi, who is also a Carnegie Diaspora Visiting Professor at the Institute of African Studies, noted that admission into a doctoral programme does not guarantee a clear career but rather gives the PhD student a whole new perspective about the world. He charged the students to constantly read research papers as this can greatly enhance human knowledge.
The four-day workshop was attended by about 25 students undertaking various PhD programmes at the University of Ghana. The topics discussed included, an Overview of the Doctoral Environment; the Architecture of Supervision, Grants, Fellowships, Conferences, and Publishing.
