The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has begun a new era of academic motivation within its Department of Physics Education as Dr Desmond Appiah, a senior lecturer and head of the department, rolls out a fully self-funded five-year award scheme to promote excellence and strengthen female participation in physics.
The initiative, known as the “Desmond Appiah Physics Award,” officially commenced with the university’s 30th Congregation and is expected to run for five consecutive years.
The scheme will recognise two outstanding students annually: the overall best graduating physics student and the best graduating female physics student. Each recipient will receive a commemorative citation and a cash prize, all fully sponsored by Dr Appiah.
He emphasised that the award is designed to enhance academic excellence while deliberately encouraging the participation and retention of women in physics, a discipline traditionally marked by low female representation.
According to the proposal, the scheme is not only a reward mechanism but a deliberate educational intervention aimed at raising enthusiasm among students in the field.
“I firmly believe that this award scheme will significantly contribute to the encouragement and motivation of our continuing and graduating students, with a particular focus on promoting the involvement of female students in physics education,” Dr Appiah noted.
One of the most striking components of the proposal is Dr Appiah’s decision to fully finance the initiative without any financial support from UEW. In his letter, he states explicitly that he “will personally fund this award scheme, eliminating the need for any financial support from the university.”
The move has been widely praised within the academic community as a demonstration of personal commitment to educational excellence, mentorship, and social responsibility. By opting to shoulder the full cost of the initiative, Dr. Appiah’s gesture stands out as an example of faculty-led support for student development at a time when universities nationwide are navigating constrained budgets.
The Department of Physics Education, like many science and engineering-related fields globally, continues to grapple with gender gaps in enrollment, completion, and performance levels. As such, Dr Appiah’s targeted support for female students is expected to create a ripple effect in boosting female visibility and excellence in physics.
By awarding a dedicated prize to the best graduating female physics student, the scheme highlights and rewards female achievement while sending a strong motivational signal to continuing students. This recognition aims to dismantle stereotypes and inspire more young women to pursue physics education at higher levels.
This year’s overall Best Physics Education Graduating Student, Jonas Kulego, described the honour as a powerful validation of the “hard work, determination, perseverance, and resilience” required to excel in physics. He noted that although the discipline comes with challenges, the award has strengthened his resolve to aim higher and inspire other students.
“I am very grateful to Dr Desmond Appiah for giving me this opportunity and for encouraging me to climb higher,” he said, adding that the recognition will support his future academic pursuits. With a strong foundation in physics, Mr Kulego hopes to advance toward a PhD and eventually build a career as an energy or electrical engineer.
The Best Female Physics Education Graduating Student, Ms Bertha Ayim, said the award came as an unexpected but deeply meaningful surprise. She believes the honour will inspire other young women to pursue physics and strive for excellence.
“This recognition motivates me to give my best as I continue my studies and work to become better than my past,” she shared. Ms Bertha Ayim extended her appreciation to Dr. Appiah, saying he “has done more than expected” and made her proud of her hard work. She emphasised that such awards will go a long way in encouraging more female students to enter the field of physics.
Dr Appiah’s initiative is drawing attention both within and beyond the university’s walls as a model of private-sector-style social responsibility introduced into academia. By combining personal philanthropy with institutional goals, he exemplifies how individual educators can help solve structural educational challenges.
The award speaks not only to academic excellence but also to the cultivation of an environment where students feel motivated to excel and where achievements in science receive public recognition.
For the next five years, UEW’s Department of Physics Education will celebrate excellence through this award, ensuring the name “Desmond Appiah Physics Award” becomes tied to academic achievement, gender inclusion, and educational advancement.
By launching the award at the 30th Congregation and committing to sustain it for half a decade, Dr Appiah is establishing a legacy that will influence cohorts of physics students, especially women, long after the initial cycle of awards concludes.
The gesture reinforces a culture where faculty members not only teach but also invest directly in student success and the future of their academic disciplines.
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