2nd-Year Packaging Technology students showcase research proposals in poster exhibition

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Department of Packaging Technology organized its inaugural poster presentation for second-year students.

The event aimed to enhance students' ability to develop research proposals for grant applications.

Dr. Kwadwo Boakye Boadu, a senior lecturer in the Department of Wood Science Technology, explained the rationale behind the initiative. 

“As part of their coursework in Technical Reporting, students are taught how to develop research proposals and present them in different formats, including PowerPoint presentations, poster presentations, and written submissions. For this event, we opted for a poster presentation.”

He further elaborated on the assignment.

“I asked them to select a topic of interest in any field and create a research proposal under the assumption that they were applying for a grant.

Lecturers served as judges, evaluating the presentations and awarding marks. Considering their level, I am impressed with their performance, and I believe they will improve even more with time.”

Dr. Boadu also emphasized the importance of presentation skills in professional growth.

“I know this was a challenging task for them, given their current level, but this is the reality of the professional world. In many cases, before people believe in you, you must demonstrate your capabilities, often through presentations and similar platforms,” he added.

The students' research topics covered a wide range of areas, ranging from digital marketing to economic policies.

Deborah Nuerkie Nortey and her group focused on the influence of digital marketing on consumer behavior. 

“With digital marketing strategies, people often purchase items not necessarily because they need them, but because of advertisements. Despite the increasing prevalence of digital marketing, businesses in Ghana still struggle to measure its impact on actual purchasing behaviour” she stated.

“Our research aims to identify how marketing influences the purchasing habits of young consumers and determine the key factors that drive their decisions,” she added.

Rosina Amaniampong and her group addressed the issue of plastic waste management.

“Plastic waste is a major environmental problem, affecting not only our surroundings but also public health and aesthetics.

Our proposal seeks to introduce a sustainable alternative for plastic waste management, aiming to reduce the volume of plastic waste in Ghana while raising awareness of its negative effects,” she explained.

Dorcas Andoh Mensah and her team explored the impact of importation on local production and economic growth. 

“Reducing importation can help promote domestic production, conserve foreign exchange, and stimulate economic growth.

Our study aims to provide insights on minimizing excessive imports, thereby increasing local job opportunities, fostering economic growth, and ultimately improving living standards,” she noted.

The event provided students with valuable experience in proposal writing and academic presentations, preparing them for future professional endeavors.