“Impact, not output, should become the defining measure of our success”: KNUST Dean Prof. Emmanuel Adinyira at USTED Research Conference.

Professor Emmanuel Adinyira, Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment (FoBE) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has called for a shift in how universities assess postgraduate research, urging institutions to place greater emphasis on its impact on society rather than the quantity of academic publications produced.

He made the call while delivering the keynote address on the second day of the 3rd USTED Postgraduate Research Conference, organised under the theme, “Interdisciplinary Research for a Resilient Future: The Contribution of Postgraduate Studies.”

Speaking on “Shared Responsibility, Shared Future: Rethinking the Purpose and Impact of Postgraduate Research,” Professor Adinyira said research should go beyond academic institutions and contribute directly to solving challenges confronting communities and the wider society.

He explained that while interdisciplinary research brings different academic fields together, greater emphasis should now be placed on transdisciplinary research, which extends collaboration to industry, policymakers, government agencies, practitioners and communities.

According to him, involving these groups in the research process can help researchers better understand societal challenges and develop solutions that are practical and relevant.

Professor Adinyira described postgraduate research as an investment in the future, noting that its benefits include developing students’ research skills, improving supervision, strengthening scholarly networks and producing graduates capable of contributing to national development.

He stressed that achieving these outcomes requires all stakeholders to take responsibility for creating a strong research ecosystem.

He therefore encouraged universities to prioritise collaboration over unnecessary competition, share research facilities and resources, and ensure that research responds to national development priorities and pressing societal needs.

Professor Adinyira also urged institutions to reconsider how research success is measured, arguing that the usefulness and real-world influence of research should receive greater attention alongside traditional academic outputs.

He said postgraduate research should increasingly be connected to communities and practical challenges, enabling universities to contribute more effectively to innovation, policymaking and sustainable development.

The KNUST Dean concluded by advocating for a postgraduate research system that is collaborative, inclusive, ethical and transdisciplinary, describing such an approach as essential to building resilient societies and addressing complex national and global challenges.