SELLL-UEW Summit Enhances Postgraduate Thesis Supervision and Research
The School of Education and Life-Long Learning (SELLL) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) held a research summit to enhance the quality of postgraduate research.
The event provided staff and students with practical guidance on thesis supervision, assessment and graduation requirements.
The summit, held at the Kwadwo Baah Wiredu Lecture Theatre (LT 4) on Thursday, 30th July, 2026, brought together lecturers, supervisors and postgraduate students to examine professional practices that will enhance thesis writing, supervision and the timely completion of postgraduate studies.
Prof. Hinneh Kusi, the Dean of SELLL, described research as a core mandate of every university and noted that the changing landscape of higher education demands stronger research cultures and higher standards of academic integrity. He stressed that quality postgraduate research is a shared responsibility requiring effective collaboration among students, supervisors, departments and the University.
He said that the summit was designed to provide a platform for dialogue and reflection on improving supervision, strengthening thesis assessment and equipping postgraduate students with the confidence and communication skills required to defend their research. He encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and apply the knowledge gained to enhance the quality and impact of their research.
Delivering a presentation on current issues and policies in supervision, assessment and graduation, Prof. Kusi urged postgraduate students to align their research topics with their departments' research agendas and future career aspirations to ensure meaningful contributions to knowledge and improve their employability.
He also announced that postgraduate students can now propose their preferred supervisors, subject to approval by their respective departments. He encouraged students to engage both their principal and co-supervisors throughout the research process. He further highlighted the importance of supervision monitoring forms in tracking students' progress and strengthening accountability between supervisors and supervisees.
Prof. Kusi cautioned students against the unethical use of artificial intelligence in thesis writing. He stressed that while emerging technologies can support research, over-reliance on them undermines academic integrity and could result in theses being referred for substantial revision. He also advised students to thoroughly proofread their work, ensure accurate referencing and adhere strictly to University policies on thesis submission to avoid unnecessary delays in assessment and graduation.
Prof. Peter Eshun provided practical guidance on preparing for thesis defence. He urged postgraduate students to develop a thorough understanding of their research and be ready to justify their choice of topic, methodology, findings, contribution to knowledge and study limitations before examination panels.
He reminded students that successfully defending a thesis does not automatically qualify them for graduation. He emphasised the need to complete all required corrections, obtain supervisory approval, satisfy administrative and financial obligations and meet submission deadlines to avoid delays in graduation.
The summit formed part of SELLL's continuing efforts to strengthen postgraduate research, improve supervision practices and promote excellence in scholarly output across the University.
