body-container-line-1
07.02.2018 Education

University of Ghana-Carnegie Scholars Network Unveiled

By GNA
University of Ghana-Carnegie Scholars Network Unveiled
07.02.2018 LISTEN

The University of Ghana - Carnegie Scholars Network (UG-CSN) has been launched in Accra.

The Organisation seeks to bring together all beneficiaries of the Carnegie 'Next Generation of Academics in Africa' project at UG, to network and share ideas and research findings.

Its executive officers include; Naa Dodua Dodoo, Coordinator; Dr Mark Obeng, Secretary; Mr Collins Badu Agyemang, Public Relations Officer; Dr Rabiu Asante, Organiser and Dr Doris Akyere Boateng, Conference/Writing Committee Chair.

The UG-CSN was jointly launched by Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, Project Director, UG-Carnegie Project, UG and Professor Abena Oduro, Director, Centre for Social Policy Studies, UG, at its maiden international conference on the theme "Connecting the Dots: Research, Policy and Practice"

Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu said since 2010, the Corporation's fund had supported 86 Master of Philosophy (MPhil) candidates and over 100 PhD candidates.

She said in addition, the Corporation's fund had supported several faculties for them to participate in international conferences in order to enable them disseminate their research findings.

Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu, who was UG's first Pro-Vice Chancellor in-charge of Research, Innovation and Developments, said: "The UG had many partners that worked with us, but I think one particular partner deserves special mentioning, and that is the Carnegie Corporation of New York."

She said following the implementation of the Carnegie 'Next Generation of Academics in Africa' project at UG, there had been a lot of results.

"We've made significant strides on several fronts. Faculty strength has increased appreciably. Proportion of faculty with PhDs has increased from under 50 per cent when we started to over 80 per cent now," she said.

Adding that the number of faculty aged 40 and below when they began the project was about 20 per cent, but now it is well over 30 per cent and faculty research had also increased significantly.

"We've done well. We've done a lot in the few years, but I believe the university still has a long way to go," she said.

"We need to continue to striving for research intensive status," she noted.

Prof Oduro, who delivered the keynote address, urged universities to generate relevant and quality research for the nation's socio-economic development.

The Director of Research at the Office of Research, Innovation and Development, UG, Prof George Obeng Adjei, commended the Carnegie project for nurturing a range of young scholars, who were vocal, stating that they were happy that UG-CSN was being developed.

Prof Charles C. Mate-Kole, the Director, Centre for Aging Studies, UG, urged the PhD students to look for three or two young students to mentor, as part of efforts to enhance research.

Dr Naa Dodua Dodoo of the Regional Institute for Population Studies, UG, lauded Prof Ntiamoa-Baidu, for the critical roles she played towards the establishment of the UG-CSN.

Dr Doris Akyere Boateng, Conference Chair, Department of Social Work, UG, said the conference, which would be an annual event, sought to explore and advance the relevant nexus between research, quality and practice was a step in the right direction.

She said there was the need for academia, civil society and industry to collaborate and work together to address the nation's developmental needs.

body-container-line