Prof. Yaw Alexander Debrah Urges CHS Postgraduates to Embrace Research Publishing and Grantsmanship for Global Impact
Postgraduate students of the KNUST College of Health Sciences (CHS) have been encouraged to actively publish their research work and pursue grant opportunities as key pathways to academic success, career advancement, and global impact.
This charge was delivered by Professor Yaw Alexander Debrah, Professor of Parasitology and Global Health, at the College of Health Sciences Fresh Graduate Students’ Orientation, where he addressed students on the theme of Funding/Sponsoring Postgraduate Education, Grantsmanship, and Research Publication, with emphasis on the appropriateness and relevance of research areas.
Professor Debrah stressed that publishing research is not optional in academia, noting that progression to higher academic and professional ranks depends heavily on consistent scholarly output. He urged students to adopt a “publish to win” mindset, explaining that impactful publications enhance visibility, credibility, and influence in both local and global academic communities.
He also enlightened students on the various means of funding and sponsoring postgraduate education, emphasizing that quality research cannot be sustained through personal funds alone. “Everyone wins grants — Master’s students, MPhil students, PhD candidates, and even professors — so go for it,” he exclaimed, encouraging students to pursue funding opportunities boldly.
In his presentation, Professor Debrah explained that postgraduate training, particularly PhD, is purely research-oriented and aimed at generating new knowledge, developing advanced research skills, and contributing meaningfully to national development. He advised students to carefully select relevant research areas, appropriate to their departments, and publishable, as these factors are critical to thesis assessment and long-term academic success.
Touching on grantsmanship, he described it as the art of securing research funding through effective grant writing, noting that rejection is a normal part of the process. He encouraged students to learn from feedback, collaborate with others, and remain persistent. He highlighted that only about 10–15 percent of grant proposals are successful, but persistence and improvement significantly increase chances over time.
Professor Debrah outlined various sources of research funding, including local grants such as College Grants, KNUST Research Fund (KReF), and industry support, as well as international opportunities from organizations like the African Research Excellence Fund (AREF), Wellcome Trust, EDCTP, DAAD, and large consortium funders such as the NIH and the European Commission.
On research publication, he underscored the principle of “publish or perish,” explaining that publishing enables researchers to contribute to knowledge, influence policy, gain recognition, and advance their careers. He cited examples of renowned scholars whose groundbreaking work emerged during their postgraduate training, reinforcing the importance of early and consistent publishing.
Professor Debrah further encouraged students to make use of institutional resources, including research communication tools available on the KNUST website, to guide them through effective scholarly writing and publication.
The session formed a key component of the Fresh Graduate Students’ Orientation, equipping new postgraduate students of the College of Health Sciences with practical insights into building successful, well-funded, and impactful research careers at KNUST and beyond.
