Students Research Works and National Development

Do students’ project or research works have any relevance at all? A project work, thesis or dissertation is a long piece of writing based on one’s own ideas and research that one does in a particular subject area, as part of a university degree. It is expected that such research works by graduates would add to already existing knowledge and help in further research methodologies to enable universities or in most cases countries to find lasting solutions to societal problems. But the question is, has project work, thesis or dissertation of Ghanaian students been seen as important developmental tool? It is an open fact that Ghana lacks in so many areas socially, economically, politically and religiously. Interestingly, most research works which contain answers to Ghana’s socio-economic challenges are left to gather dust at various tertiary institutions. It is in this regard that one would ask; is it even worth it for students to be subjected to compulsory project work, thesis or dissertation, as a requirement for the award of a degree? This perhaps may be fuelling the temptation where students do engage in ‘copy and paste’ of samples of researched works on the internet and present them as their own research findings. Other students also engage the services of Project work contractors or their course mates to do it on their behalf in exchange for cash. This defeats the objective of getting students to do original work and it can impact on national development.

The attitude of project supervisors in some cases, too tend to discourage students. For instance some supervisors use the project work as bait for amorous relationship. Some lecturers also avoid students through vain excuses. Students have to take the blame for the delay, culminating in their late submission of their project work and subsequent delay their congregation, without any punishment going to the lecturer by the authorities. The end loser is Ghana, because ideas that will help in pushing the development agenda forward are left to gather dust, while in extreme cases students become frustrated and abandon the project works and their academic work altogether. In most universities students are made to pay penalty for failing to meet the deadline for submission of their researched academic works, so if supervisors unduly delay such students, are they justified to pay such penalty?

It is suggested that for institutions of higher learning to fully reap the benefits of project work, thesis or dissertation, there is the need for a second look at the selection of project topics, which should be chosen strategically with supervisors’ assistance and full scrutiny by the academic board. A renowned Nigerian scholar, Emeritus Professor PaiObanya, in a recent public lecture at the University of Cape Coast, opined that choosing of project topics should be based on knowledge to tackle societal needs, and not just be seen as an academic exercise. Such research works should not be left to gather dust, but be judiciously implemented through further research processes to extensively justify an award for a degree.