By: Robert Kwaku Annor
The Office of Grants and
Research (OGR) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST) has hosted a delegation from the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA),
Tanzania, for a three-day benchmarking visit focused on strengthening grant management
systems and research administration practices.
The engagement provided a
platform for both institutions to exchange knowledge, share institutional
experiences and explore opportunities for future collaboration in research
support and capacity development.
The visit formed part of
efforts by both universities to improve research management processes and
enhance institutional systems that support innovation and academic research.
During the engagement,
Director of the Office of Grants and Research at KNUST, Jerry John Kponyo,
welcomed the SUZA delegation and highlighted the mandate of OGR in supporting
the university’s research and innovation agenda.
The delegation also received
a presentation from Professor Robert Clement Abaidoo, Principal Investigator of
the KNUST Building Stronger Universities (BSU II & III) Programme, on the
impact of the initiative on KNUST’s grants management ecosystem and lessons
learned.
The session highlighted how
the Building Stronger Universities programme has contributed to strengthening
research systems, improving institutional capacity and enhancing grant
management practices at KNUST.
Representatives from SUZA
shared insights into their institution’s grants management framework and
outlined their expectations for the benchmarking visit, creating opportunities
for dialogue and mutual learning between the two institutions.
As part of the programme,
the SUZA delegation toured KNUST’s decentralised grants management offices to
gain practical understanding of the university’s research support model and the
structures that enable effective grant administration across its colleges.
The engagement also allowed
both institutions to discuss common challenges, identify areas of collaboration
and explore pathways for strengthening research partnerships across Africa.
The KNUST Office of Grants
and Research said the visit reflects its commitment to building strategic
partnerships that promote research excellence, knowledge exchange and
sustainable development.
