Group Picture of Participants
The University of Ghana has organised a Doctoral Students Research Conference on the theme: ‘Promoting PhD Research Excellence’. The two-day Conference, under the auspices of the Building Stronger Universities Phase II Project, managed by the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) is the result of several key initiatives the University has undertaken over the last three years to strengthen the delivery of PhD programmes.
The Conference brought together about 300 doctoral students as well as Deans and Directors from both public and private Universities across the country.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, in his opening remarks, lauded ORID for pioneering such a conference to promote excellence in PhD research nationwide. He was particularly happy that the conference would introduce the Doctoral students to the culture of making presentations at conferences, establish networks, learn new trends in PhD studies.
Prof. Aryeetey encouraged the Doctoral students to take advantage of the platform provided by the conference to interact with and learn from Senior Researchers as well as their peers.
Professor Ernest Aryeetey, Vice Chancellor, UG
Professor John Gyapong, Pro Vice Chancellor, Research for Innovation and Development
Welcoming participants to the conference, the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Professor John Gyapong, said the University’s vision of becoming a research intensive University would be fueled by upgrading the quality of PhD research. He emphasised that the goal of the conference was to give doctoral students the opportunity to have their work critiqued by peers, and to share their research ideas and articles in an unhindered manner. He noted that the conference could be an excellent starting point for regular doctoral conferences among Universities in Ghana.
Professor Mahama Duwiejua, Former Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education
The keynote speaker, Professor Mahama Duwiejua (former Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education) applauded the University’s vision of becoming a research intensive university. He said promoting Research Excellence is a shared national responsibility and called for more funding for Research as investing in research is investing in Ghana’s future. Research he indicated, should transform our economy to a knowledge-based one and to help find solutions to our national problems.
Prof. Duwiejua also commended University’s renewed commitment to knowledge generation and the desire to positively impact students within and outside the University community.
He congratulated the participants for choosing research as a career to contribute to knowledge and nation building. He urged trainers to ensure that the doctorates awarded are through rigorous training.
There were over 54 oral presentations and 27 poster presentations by doctoral students. Plenary sessions on both days discussed issues concerning doctoral studies including the PhD journey and what it entails (Ghanaian and Danish experiences); Good cooperation between PhD students and supervisors, Publishing from PhD thesis, Authorship Issues arising from publishing PhD Theses, and Thesis examiners: who are they and what they expect.
Mr. Ernest Agyemang and Mr. Francis Hasford received awards sponsored by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) for the Best Oral and Poster presentations respectively.
The closing ceremony was chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, Professor Samuel Kwame Offei and was witnessed by the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Tove Degnbol, gave a brief statement on the role of the Danish Government in the development of research at our institutions
of higher education. She also expressed her delight at the prospect of the conference becoming an annual event. The BSU II project is funded by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) over a 2 year period.
From left to right: Ms. Tove Degnbol, Danish Ambassador, Professor Samuel K Offei, Pro-Vice Chancellor (ASA) and Professor Andrew Anthony Adjei, Chairman, Conference Planning Committee
A cross section of participants at the conference
