CHS Holds Two-Day Orientation for New Postgraduate Students
The College of Health Sciences (CHS), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has successfully organized a two-day orientation programme for newly admitted postgraduate students, aimed at equipping them with essential academic, research, and administrative knowledge for their postgraduate journey.
The orientation, held from Tuesday, January 20 to Wednesday, January 21, 2026, brought together postgraduate students from across the College to receive comprehensive guidance on research, supervision, funding, ethics, assessment, and student support services.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Christian Agyare, delivered the welcome address, encouraging students to embrace academic excellence, integrity, and interdisciplinary collaboration as they pursue advanced training in the health sciences.
Presentations on the first day focused on foundational research concepts. Prof. Yaw Ampem Amoako introduced students to research theory and types of research, including case studies, human studies, and clinical studies. This was followed by an orientation session led by Prof. James Oppong-Kyekyeku, who addressed critical postgraduate matters such as course registration, programme duration, supervision, deferment, suspension, termination of studies, and complaints procedures.
Further sessions explored research theory in animal studies, research designs, and interdisciplinary approaches. Prof. Yeetey Enuameh provided insights into research methods, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, while Rev. Prof. Charles Ansah discussed animal-based research studies. The day also featured sessions on self-directed studies and supervision, with hands-on training on the use of University Information Technology Services (UITS) platforms to support learning and research activities.
A key highlight of the orientation was a presentation by Prof. Alex Yaw Debrah, who addressed funding and sponsorship opportunities for PhD students. He also spoke extensively on grantmanship and research publication, emphasizing the importance of selecting relevant research areas and positioning scholarly work for global impact.
On the second day, discussions centered on research approaches, ethics, assessment, and capacity building. Prof. Samuel Newton led sessions on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods, as well as ethical issues relating to human and animal research. Students were further oriented on postgraduate assessment and examination procedures by Prof. Michael Poku-Boansi, who explained thesis deposition, graduation requirements, programme upgrades, and extension periods.
Capacity building workshops were introduced by Dr. (Mrs.) Yaa Asantewaa Osei, highlighting opportunities for soft skills development, subject-specific training, seminars, and conferences. Additional hands-on sessions on literature search, use of academic databases, and effective utilization of the College Library were facilitated by Dr. Richard Bruce Lamptey.
The orientation also addressed data analysis skills, with sessions on quantitative and qualitative data analysis led by Prof. Emmanuel Nakua and Dr. Elizabeth Y. Koomson, respectively. Student welfare topics, including scholarships, bursaries, student loans, counselling services, and student affairs, were also discussed, ensuring a holistic introduction to postgraduate life at CHS.
The programme concluded with a session on working effectively with supervisors, facilitated by Prof. Mohammed Mutocheluh, who underscored the importance of structured work plans, regular meetings, and academic presentations. The orientation ended with closing remarks and lunch, marking the successful induction of the new cohort of postgraduate students into the College of Health Sciences community.
