Fifty-one postgraduate students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have received grants from the Graduate Students Association of Ghana Research Fund (GRASAG Research Fund) to support their research activities.

The beneficiaries are made up of forty-five masters and six doctoral students.

GRASAG Research Fund (GReF) was established with the primary aim of enhancing research endeavours among graduate students.

At the fund’s core are two initiatives: the GRASAG Research Support Hub and the GRASAG Research Support Grant.

Beyond providing financial assistance, these initiatives offer mentorship and technical guidance to aspiring researchers.

“The first-ever GRASAG Research Hub anchored within the GRASAG Research Fund is now a reality. A dedicated space for graduate students to access expert assistance on their research journeys has been established. 

“The call for research fellows to provide expert assistance has been met with enthusiasm, and soon, these fellows will be offering consultations, thesis writing support along with guidance on statistical and data analysis software usage inspired by GReF,” said Felix Kofi Adusei, President of GRASAG-KNUST.

Mr Adusei expressed heartfelt gratitude for the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo's invaluable support in establishing the GReF with a $10,000 donation.

He was also grateful to the provosts of the university’s six colleges for offering office spaces.

“This will allow us to create new research hubs, expanding our reach and impact,” he added. 

Director of the Office of Grants and Research, Prof. Philip Antwi-Agyei emphasized the need for ample time in the award processes, including the stages of advertisement, review, and the selection of awardees.

He underscored that a thorough and transparent process is essential for maintaining the integrity and fairness of academic and professional awards.

He proposed a proposal writing workshops to address deficiencies in writing skills among MPhil and PhD students for quality research outputs

The vice-chancellor, Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson charged awardees to use their funds prudently.