Three female lecturers from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CoHSS) of the  Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have been awarded the  prestigious Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QES) for 2024. The recipients are Dr. Adwoa Owusuaa  Bobie of the Centre for Cultural and African Studies (CeCast), Dr. Eugenia Anderson, and Ms.  Helena Osei-Egyir, both from the Department of History and Political Studies. 

The QES fellowship, hosted by the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University in Canada,  provides early-career women from West Africa with the opportunity to engage in research and  writing. The program's slogan "Wurin ta na yin rubutu" translates to "Her own room to write." 

During their three-month residential fellowships at Carleton University, the scholars engaged in  extensive research and writing activities. Each fellow submitted manuscripts to journals and  completed drafts of articles and book chapters. They participated in academic events including the  Carleton University Emerging Scholars Conference and an IAS symposium, where they presented  papers on their respective research areas. 

As part of the fellowship requirements, each scholar completed internships at different social  enterprises in Ottawa, gaining valuable insights into various aspects of Canadian society and  particularly the experiences of migrant communities. 

The fellowship provided significant networking opportunities for the scholars. They were part of  a cohort of nine female scholars from West Africa, with five fellows participating in the Canadian  residence program during the same period due to visa timing. The scholars collaborated on  research examining cultural identity preservation among African migrants and their Canadian-born  children, with plans to publish their findings in the coming year. 

In a significant development for institutional collaboration, Professor Nduka Otiono, Director of  the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University, visited KNUST on October 22, 2024. The  visit aims to establish stronger academic partnerships between Carleton University and KNUST. 

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at KNUST congratulates Dr. Adwoa Owusuaa  Bobie, Dr. Eugenia Anderson, and Ms. Helena Osei-Egyir on their achievement and looks forward  to the positive impact this fellowship will have on both their academic careers and institutional  collaboration between the two universities.