The Faculty of Built Environment (FoBE) at the College of Art and Built Environment (CABE),KNUST, has launched its inaugural Undergraduate Student Research Awards and Honours scheme programme under the theme, “Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence. Inspiring Innovation. Rewarding Research.”
The initiative, which follows the recent KNUST Research Excellence Awards, is expected to become an annual event aimed at promoting a culture of research and scholarly inquiry among undergraduate students.
The awards recognised students in two main categories: the Best Research Work and the Most Outstanding Project of the Year. The scheme also honoured the top ten performing students from each programme across all year groups and departments within the faculty.
Chairperson of the Awards Committee, Dr. Henry Mensah, explained that the initiative was introduced to provide students with recognisable achievements that could strengthen their academic and professional portfolios.
“We realized that, apart from your bachelor’s certificates that we put in your CVs, there’s nothing much to show,” he said.
According to him, the awards are intended to support students in pursuing opportunities beyond their undergraduate studies.
“It’s very difficult for some of our students to get scholarships, in their country and outside their country. The faculty must come in to help such students,” Dr. Mensah stated.
He commended the faculty leadership for supporting the initiative and creating a platform that rewards excellence and encourages students to pursue their academic ambitions.
“Thankfully, the Dean of the faculty put together a team to bring this initiative to support students. We support you so that you can act for yourself,” he added.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment, Professor Emmanuel Adinyira, noted that students across the faculty continue to demonstrate excellence through innovative projects, impactful research and creative solutions to societal challenges.
“Such efforts deserve recognition, celebration, and encouragement. The Undergraduate Student Research Awards, an honest initiative, has therefore been established to identify, celebrate, and reward excellence in student research and scholarly achievement,” he said.
Professor Adinyira explained that the awards would not only recognise achievement but also provide students with opportunities to strengthen their academic and professional prospects.
“We believe these awards will help our students build stronger academic profiles, enhance their CVs, strengthen applications for scholarships and graduate studies, and improve their competitiveness in the job market. More importantly, they will nurture confidence, curiosity, and lifelong passion for enquiry and innovation,” he stated.
He further encouraged students at all levels to actively engage with the initiative and pursue excellence in their academic work.
“So to our students here, let me say this. This initiative belongs to you. Whether you are in the first year of your programme or in the final year, whether your work is theoretical, practical, creative, or interdisciplinary, your ideas matter,” he said.
“I encourage you to participate fully, challenge yourselves, and allow your work to be seen, celebrated, and rewarded.”
Provost of the College of Art and Built Environment, Professor Christian Koranteng, described the initiative as an important step towards recognising the often-overlooked contributions of undergraduate researchers.
“It is said that for far too long, undergraduate research has been the quiet engine of our institution. Powerful, yet often unseen. So today, the College of Art and Built Environment is rewriting that story,” he said.
According to him, the awards seek to bring greater visibility to the creativity, innovation and intellectual contributions of students within the Faculty of Built Environment.
“We are casting a brilliant spotlight on the intellectual rigor, curiosity, and creativity of our students in the Faculty of Built Environment,” Professor Koranteng noted.
He explained that the decision to recognise students across all year groups and departments reflects the college’s commitment to nurturing excellence throughout the academic journey rather than only at its conclusion.
“This is so because excellence is not confined to final year students alone. It begins in year 1 and we intend to nurture it every step of the way,” he said.
Professor Koranteng expressed confidence that the initiative would eventually be expanded beyond the Faculty of Built Environment to other faculties within the college.
“I’m confident that this experience will soon extend to the Faculties of Art and Educational Studies, ensuring that every student across CABE is studying brilliantly,” he added.
