Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Research Fellow at the University of Ghana, Legon on Thursday urged authorities of universities to establish an advanced academic research agenda to help solve the country's developmental problems. "Identifying the importance to generate basic knowledge through advanced academic research would support self-reliant and self generating space programme for the country in future," he added. Dr Antwi-Danso made the call at a National Dialogue on Postgraduate Education in Ghana organised by the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG). It was on the theme: "Making Postgraduate Education Relevant for National Development." The dialogue was aimed at bringing to the fore innovative ways of solving challenges of graduate education in the country, adding that good research could lead to findings that could positively affect society. He cautioned students who paid researchers to undertake their thesis for them to desist from such acts since it would have negative impact on them during their lifetime. Mr David Borquaye, National President of GRASAG said the Education Sector Policy Review Report by the Ministry of Education had its Seventh Policy centred on the improvement of quality academic and research programmes. "It is imperative to note that a country that invests and makes maximum use of research work tends to benefit immensely in the global world characterized by change, using research internally and internationally," he noted. Mr Borquaye said the dialogue emphasized the needs imposed by the globalised world economy and the related policies in propagating the emergence of an information society. "Post-graduate education faces multiple challenges in terms of demand, supply, quality and returns both for the providers and the clientele concerned. Many students are taking too long to complete their studies and challenging reasons range from under prepared students, inadequate funding for research work and lack of priority for post-graduate education," he said. Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, added that the government had provided support to encourage research and post-graduate education through the award of Government Bursary and Thesis Grant to all postgraduate students in the public universities using the scholarship secretariat. He said Parliament had approved a special allocation under the Ghana Education Trust Fund called Faculty Development and Research Fund, which would enable universities identify critical areas where faculties are lacking and use their allocations of the money to sponsor young faculty members for post-graduate programmes. Source: GNA