The first batch of members of the Grantsmanship Committee of Sunyani, the Sunyani Technical University (STU) have participated in a day’s session on grantsmanship in Sunyani.
The session aimed at equipping the participants with relevant knowledge and skills required to develop competitive grant proposals, improve funding opportunities and enhance research capacity.
Speaking on “How to write and win a research grant”, Prof Paul Sarfo-Mensah, the Resource Person for the programme, explained that grant is a fund given by an entity often a public body or charitable foundation or a specialized grant making institutions to an individual or another entity for a specific purpose linked to public benefits.
He told the participants that grants are given for specific purposes and achieve specified deliverables, adding that a lot of opportunities abound in grants and consultancy works.
He took a swipe at the government of Ghana for not making grants available to universities to undertake projects in various areas of national concern, including the raging menace of illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey.
The Chairman of the STU Governing Council, Prof. Samuel Awuah-Nyamekye, underscored the critical role grants in the development of universities, adding that it was his vision to see STU win more grants in the coming years to support the growth and development of the university and build the capacity of faculty.
“I want to make this university either the best or one of the best in the country and beyond”, the Council Chair stated to the admiration of participants.
He further announced plans to organize training for faculties on how to get research work published as well as ensure that STU gets full professors as against the current situation where it has about 12 associate professors.
The Vice-Chancellor, Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah noted that as compared to other technical universities, much efforts need to be made to ensure that STU wins competitive grants, going forward.
He said STU will continue to build the capacity of staff to apply and win competitive grants for the university.
