The Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Dr Margaret Wekem Kukeba, says the university’s growing research profile must translate into practical solutions to development challenges in the Upper East Region.
She says while the university is proud of its performance in global rankings, academic recognition should not be treated as an end in itself.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Dr Kukeba said UTAS is increasingly focusing on research that can be applied to problems in health, agriculture, technology and other sectors.
“We are looking at how to translate that to transformative impact that can support our region. We are looking at how we can translate our research so that we can solve the problems that are here.”
She cited work in disease surveillance, agriculture, public health, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), computing and cybersecurity as areas where research at the university could contribute to addressing regional challenges.
Dr Kukeba said UTAS’s research output and its recognition in the AD Scientific Index reflect the quality of work being produced by its academics.
The university was ranked among the top 10 universities in Ghana based on the H-Index and, according to UTAS, moved from 10th position in the 2025 and 2026 rankings to 8th in the 2027 ranking.
For Dr Kukeba, however, the greater question is how such academic output can be converted into technologies, skills and interventions that improve people’s lives.
She pointed to research by health economists whose work, she said, has informed understanding of health and economic trends and contributed to discussions involving institutions such as the World Health Organisation, United Nations agencies, the World Bank and Ghana’s Ministry of Health.
She said the university’s ambition must go beyond publishing research to developing equipment, building technical capacity and supporting people to apply scientific knowledge.
Dr Kukeba also raised concerns about Ghana’s ability to fully harness its natural resources despite having trained professionals in relevant scientific fields.
She cited the Upper East Region’s mineral resources, including gold, and said stronger scientific capacity and equipment were needed to properly explore and develop such resources.
“We have the potential. But unfortunately, we finish learning that, and we come back and we do not have the equipment.”
She said UTAS has already begun building expertise in geology, which she described as important for the exploration of the region’s natural resources, while calling for greater support for the development of science and technology infrastructure.
According to Dr Kukeba, many Ghanaian academics acquire advanced scientific and technical skills abroad but return to institutions where inadequate equipment can limit their ability to apply that knowledge.
She is therefore appealing to government, development partners, private sector actors and other stakeholders to support UTAS with the resources and networks needed to expand its research and innovation capacity.
“For science, it’s very critical to our development… It’s now left with how we can actually all put our hands on deck.”
Dr Kukeba believes stronger collaboration between the university, government, industry and other stakeholders could help unlock the Upper East Region’s scientific and economic potential and enable UTAS to contribute more directly to Ghana’s development.
Her comments formed part of a discussion on “The Future of Science and Technology Education in the Upper East Region: The Role of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences.”
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| Bolgatanga
