Quality research can facilitate attainment of MDGs – Prof Yankson
Quality graduate research can make the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) be met on target dates, Professor Kobina Yankson, director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance at the University of Cape Coast, (UCC) has noted.
He underscored the significant role research could play in meeting the socio-economic needs of the country and called for quality, relevant and solution oriented-research work by graduates in this direction.
Prof Yankson made the observation when he delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Third Graduate Conference on the theme: “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: The Role of Graduate Research”, at the UCC School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Delegates from the country’s universities are attending.
Prof Yankson encouraged institutions to sponsor these major life-changing research projects instead of focussing on beauty pageants.
The conference would among other issues discuss, “How Graduate Research Work Could Help Attain the MDG’S; Funding Opportunities for Graduate Research; How to Manage Your Supervisor; and Job Opportunities after Graduate Studies.”
Prof. Yankson stated that: “Local problems are best solved locally, thus the need to encourage local research work to help provide substantive solutions towards the MDG’s.”
He, therefore, stressed the need for the country’s universities to develop institutional strategic plan research tailored to solve specific needs of society.
Prof Yankson further called for a developmental research agenda that would target the MDG’s to help achieve the developmental goals of the country.
He said there should be a healthy relationship between research institutions and industries, adding that, industrial growth could foster socio-economic development.
Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, Vice Chancellor of UCC, said in-depth research analysis of various topics could produce favourable policies to help in the attainment of the MDG’S.
Prof Albert A. Addo Quaye of the UCC, emphasised that graduate research work must be demand-driven and be up to date with considerations of environmental needs and impacts on societal problems.
Source: GNA