Koforidua, July 13, GNA – The Koforidua Polytechnic has committed GH¢ 63,476.00 to support 22 research proposals that were approved by the institution for the 2009/2010 academic year.

The amount represents an increase of 11 percent over the previous year’s allocation of GH¢ 55,434.00 where 17 proposals were supported.

Prof Reynolds Okai, Rector of the Polytechnic, who disclosed this at the fourth Annual Applied Research Conference of the Polytechnic in Koforidua, said the institution was committed to improve the research output and total development of its staff.

He said one of the two objects of the Polytechnics Act 2007, (ACT 745), is the provision of opportunities for skills development, applied research and the publication of research findings.

Prof Okai said the holding of the Annual Research Conference by the Polytechnic was in fulfilment of that objective.

He said from a humble beginning in 2008 when only 10 papers were received from internal staff members, the fourth edition of the Applied Research Conference had received 32 papers, with presenters coming from the Polytechnics, the Universities and other research institutions.

He said, “first and foremost, this conference is significant as it affords members of the Polytechnic community the opportunity to publish their research findings as required by the Polytechnic Act, secondly, the Polytechnic seeks to remain relevant through the Annual Applied Research Conference since the knowledge and ideals from a cross section of the academia, industry and research institutions on pertinent issues on national importance are pooled together”.

Prof Okai said being conversant with the importance of research and publications to the tertiary sector, the management would continue to make annual budgetary allocations for applied research.

He said in choosing the theme for the conference, ‘Ghana’s Emerging Oil Economy; the contributions of the Polytechnics,’ management was mindful of the potential role the Polytechnics had to play and had therefore set the forum for the appropriate discourse through the conference.

“We seek to position ourselves to be part of building the oil economy through proper applied research in collaboration and partnership with Government, Municipal, District Assemblies, private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations.