KsTU Graduate School Organises Seminar to Enhance Postgraduate Research Excellence
The Graduate School of Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has organised a seminar for postgraduate students which was aimed at strengthening their research competencies and academic success.
The seminar was held at the Research Commons of the University Library on Saturday 20th June 2026, and it brought together postgraduate students from across the University to interact with resource persons on key issues relating to research, academic writing, and scholarly development.
Welcoming participants, the President of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), KsTU Chapter, outlined activities and programmes planned for the semester and encouraged students to actively participate in both academic and social engagements organised by the Association.
The Dean of the Graduate School, Prof. Roland Kabange welcomed the students and explained the rationale behind the seminar, noted that postgraduate education requires a strong foundation in research and academic integrity. He urged students to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and researchers.
The first presentation was delivered by Mr. Samuel Ossom, a Chief Library Assistant on behalf Dr. Osei Kuffour, the University Librarian who took participants through the concept of plagiarism and practical ways of avoiding it in academic work. He emphasised the importance of originality, ethical scholarship, proper attribution of sources, and the consequences of academic misconduct.
In the second presentation, Mr. Ossom provided further insights into responsible research practices and the need for students to maintain high standards of academic integrity throughout their studies.
Presenting on referencing and citation styles in research, Mr. Kwabena Ntiamoah-Sarpong, the Assistant Librarian explained the importance of proper referencing in avoiding plagiarism and enhancing the credibility of scholarly work. He noted that although there is no universally accepted citation style, institutions often adopt specific styles for academic writing. He therefore encouraged students to familiarise themselves with and consistently apply the citation style adopted by the University in their research work.
The final presentation was delivered by Mr. Dominic Dery, Junior Assistant Librarian of the University, on the topic, "Maximizing University Resources for Scholarly Excellence and Research Impact: The Role of the Library Circulating/User Services Department." He highlighted the various resources and support services available through the University Library and encouraged students to leverage these facilities to improve the quality and impact of their research.
The seminar featured interactive question-and-answer sessions after each presentation, providing participants with the opportunity to seek clarification and engage directly with the resource persons.
The programme concluded with closing remarks from the Dean of the Graduate School, a vote of thanks by the GRASAG Secretary, and a networking session that allowed participants to connect with colleagues and resource persons.
The seminar forms part of the Graduate School's commitment to promoting research excellence, academic integrity, and scholarly works among postgraduate students of Kumasi Technical University.
