BUILDING STRONGER UNIVERSITIES II (BSU II) PROJECT HOLDS SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

The Building Stronger Universities II (BSU II) Project in Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi has held a Scientific Conference on the theme: Maximising Stakeholders Involvement in Productive Research and Uptake.  The conference took place from 28th – 30th March, 2017 at the Golden Bean Hotel, Kumasi.

The aims of the Conference were to provide a scientific forum for the sharing of knowledge and experiences, bring together stakeholders on the Project and explore strategies for collaboration in research with a focus on research results dissemination and uptake. 

Conference Participants

The Conference attracted participants from KNUST and the Danish Universities involved in the Project. Also in attendance were other research institutions and industry players.  The DANIDA-funded Project is led by Prof. Robert Clement Abaidoo, KNUST and Prof Peter Furu, University of Copenhagen.

Professor R. C. Abaidoo

In an address to open the conference, Professor R. C. Abaidoo, stated that the project seeks to build research capacity in KNUST through programmes and activities which promote quality research with the propensity to impact society.   He mentioned that the project was grouped into four work packages (WP) namely: Climate-smart Agriculture and Environmental Management (WP1), Entrepreneurship and Job Creation (WP2), Health Delivery Systems (WP3) and University-wide services and facilities that support research (WP4). He also added that the Project has provided support for the refurbishment of the Research Commons in the main University Library and the procurement of software for academic work as well as the training of library staff. The University’s Central Laboratory has also benefitted from the support in staff training and laboratory management systems. The Office of Grants and Research on the other hand, received support to equip the research offices in the colleges.

Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso

Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, the Vice-Chancellor, lauded the theme for the conference saying “While the current challenges and opportunities in this region are many, clearly, KNUST well realizes that mutual goals will be best achieved through partnerships with all the stakeholders concerned.”  He was happy that the Danish Government has supported the University to enrich its research enterprise and called on Government to scale up its support for research in the countries universities.

Mr. Lasse Moller

Representing the Royal Danish Ambassador, Mr. Lasse Moller, Consular on Development at the Royal Dutch Embassy, stated that the BSU project which started in 2012 had seen several developments and support for research especially in training post-graduate students in KNUST. He further stated that the BSU II project has enhanced the first phase and pledged the continued support of the Danish Government to the success of the project. He hoped that BSU III will consolidate the gains from BSU I and II to promote research and the development of Ghana. 

In an address delivered on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Minister  stated that all over the world science and technology are perceived as major tools for rapid social and economic development and it was the responsibility of higher institutions of learning to strive to make meaningful social and economic impact using research as the means adding,  that in the midst of poor public attitude towards the environment, climate change and its attendant threats, health and economic challenges, research remains one of the panaceas for turning these challenges around and making the world a better place.  He therefore called on researchers not to rest on their oars but use such scientific platforms to do more to solve societal problems.  He expressed delight in the support that KNUST and other Universities in Ghana has received from the Danish Government to support research.