KNUST College of Health Sciences Hosts “Breakfast with the Provost” Seminar on Responsible Campus Life
The KNUST College of Health Sciences (CHS), in collaboration with the Gender Inclusion and Vulnerability (GIV) Office at KNUST and the Health Sciences Students’ Association (HESA), organized an engaging seminar for students under the theme “Responsible Campus Life: Freedom Without Chaos.” The event, dubbed “Breakfast with the Provost,” created a platform for open dialogue between college leadership and students on issues relating to academic growth, personal responsibility, and well-being on campus.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Christian Agyare, Provost of the KNUST College of Health Sciences, encouraged students to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available to them, particularly in research and leadership development. He emphasized the importance of research involvement among undergraduate students, noting that the professional nature of most programmes offered in the College requires students to cultivate strong research skills as a foundation for their future careers.
Professor Agyare explained that these skills serve as critical building blocks for students’ evolution into competent health professionals, researchers, and academicians. He further urged students to embrace volunteerism and broaden their interests beyond their core programmes.
“Networking will take you places,” he advised, stressing the need for students to build strong interpersonal relationships that can support their academic and professional journeys.
The Provost also highlighted the essential qualities of effective leadership, noting that sacrifice, commitment, and professionalism remain the bedrock of impactful leadership in both academic and professional spaces.
The seminar also featured an insightful presentation by Dr. Ruth Owusu-Antwi from the Department of Behavioural Science, who addressed the issue of substance abuse among students. Her presentation traced the pathway from initial experimentation to full dependency, illustrating how easily casual exposure to substances can evolve into addiction.
Dr. Owusu-Antwi explained how substance use gradually rewires the brain’s reward system, allowing tolerance to build silently until what begins as a temporary escape becomes a persistent trap. She highlighted the far-reaching consequences of substance abuse, including declining academic performance, financial strain, damaged relationships, and impaired decision-making.
Participants were also encouraged to recognize the dangers of peer pressure and the importance of making responsible choices. While the presentation underscored the risks associated with substance abuse, its tone remained supportive and solution-oriented.
Students were reminded that true freedom on campus lies not in testing limits but in exercising the wisdom to avoid harmful choices. They were advised to choose positive peer groups, learn to decline harmful influences confidently, and seek support when needed to rebuild and regain control.
Another presentation was delivered by Dr. Barbara Gyapong-Korsah, who provided insights into the work of the Gender Inclusion and Vulnerability Office. She explained that the Office serves as a central point of accountability for promoting gender equity, disability inclusion, and the protection of vulnerable groups across the university.
Dr. Gyapong-Korsah outlined the five guiding pillars of the Office’s activities: Equity and Inclusion; Respect and Dignity; Accountability and Integrity; Confidentiality and Protection; and Empowerment and Collaboration. She emphasized the institution’s commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of the university community.
The “Breakfast with the Provost” initiative forms part of the College’s broader efforts to foster responsible student life while equipping learners with the knowledge, values, and support systems necessary to thrive academically and socially. The seminar provided students with practical guidance on balancing academic freedom with personal responsibility, reinforcing the College’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded health professionals.
