UEW Hosts 2018 Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Scholars
The Inter-University Conference for Doctoral Studies (IUCDS) in collaboration with the Department of French Education, the Faculty of Foreign Languages Education and Communication, the College of Languages Education (CoLANGE) and the School of Graduate Studies has organised its second seminar for doctoral scholars at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).
The three day conference took place on Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th April, 2018 at the Council Chamber, North Campus and the Institute for Educational Research and Innovation Studies (IERIS), Winneba. It was under the theme “National Development through Collaborative Research in Educational Studies”.
In his overview presentation on activities of the IUCDS, Executive Secretary, IUCDS, UEW, Prof. D. S. Y. Amuzu emphasised the importance of fostering a partnership with other sister Universities both within and outside Ghana, particularly in the West African sub-region.
Prof. Amuzu said the partnership aids their objective of preserving academic interest of students in doctoral programmes, updating content of input, maintaining quality teaching and research in Institutions, collaborating in research and facilitating dissemination of research findings, promoting staff development, sustaining academic standards and approving equivalents in the awards of certificates, diplomas and degrees.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. James Kagya-Agyemang (Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor) noted that collaboration had been an integral part of research for a long time. He added that the nature of collaboration appeared to be evolving from one of conducting research within departments, disciplines or institutions to newer areas necessitating partnerships across departments and institutions.
“This type of inter-disciplinary collaboration has stoked the pace of research and encouraged the development of innovative and ground breaking strategies in investigating increasingly novel, complex and convoluted areas.” He said.
In an interview with a member of the Organising Committee, Ms. Doreen E. E. Yegblemenawo (lecturer, Department of French Education) disclosed that the conference was basically to help those on doctoral programmes shape their work, share ideas and know how to finish their PhD programmes successfully with ease.
According to a Research Fellow, Centre for Educational Policy Studies, IERIS, UEW, Dr. Edison D. Pajibo, in his presentation, PhD is mainly research-based that enables holders to explore, discover and generate new knowledge. He said during the 15th to 18th century, a lot of things which are still very important to us were discovered. This period was the period of exploration and discovery. From that period up till now, a lot of things that were discovered are still useful in our daily lives. “As PhD students and a University that runs PhD programmes, what has been the benefits brought to us from the studies?” He quizzed.
He said that certain things such as; changes within the educational system among others are the expectations of UEW PhD. He charged them to use their studies productively to foster development in the country.
The opening ceremony was chaired by the Principal of CoLANGE, Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsoh and saw presentations from Deputy Registrar, IERIS, UEW, Mr. Francis Narh Akrono, Dean, School of Graduate Studies, University of Cape Coast, Dr. Ernest Okorley and many more.
The IUCDS is an academic body and partnership framework composed of Sister Institutions in Ghana and in the West African sub-region (public and private universities and institutions located in Ghana, Togo, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire). Its primary aims include: creating a system whereby students of member institutions will be able to register and pursue doctoral degree programmes in any of the institutions concerned, while respecting the existing regulations in each institution.
It also creates a pool of experts for the supervision and assessment of doctoral thesis/dissertations since these measures would enhance staff development through facilitation of movement of researchers from various member institutions. Finally, it facilitates doctoral studies and promotes collaborative research, thereby helping to address the acute shortage of motivated and well trained academic staff in Partner Institutions or Universities.
