As part of efforts to strengthen research capacity and promote ethical scholarship, the College of Education Grants Management Unit of the Research and Innovation Directorate (RID), in collaboration with the College of Education (CoE), organized a series of targeted training sessions for faculty and PhD students between January and April 2025.
The initiative, which commenced with three virtual sessions, culminated in an in-person workshop held at the RID Conference Room on Thursday, 25th April 2025, under the theme “Protecting Innovation, Ensuring Integrity: IP and Ethics for Researchers.” The workshop was designed to strengthen a culture of grantsmanship within the College. These training sessions formed part of the University’s broader commitment to building faculty capacity and advancing impactful research, in line with UG’s Strategic Plan. Each session was carefully designed to address relevant gaps in grant writing, research visibility, performance metrics, and ethical standards in academia.
The first training session, which took place on Tuesday, 30th January, was on the topic “From Concept to Funded Project: Writing Winning Grant Proposals.” It was facilitated by Professor Gladys Nyarko Ansah from the Department of English. She guided participants through the fundamentals of crafting competitive grant proposals, covering everything from concept development to proposal submission, and shared practical tips on aligning proposals with funder expectations. The second session, held on Tuesday, 27th February, focused on “Research Visibility and Reputation” and was facilitated by Mary Twum-Barima, RDO at RID. This session presented various platforms available for publicizing and disseminating research findings and discussed ways researchers can increase the reach and visibility of their work. On Thursday, 21st March, the third session in the series centered on the theme “Beyond the H-Index: Approaches to Research Performance.” Led by Mr. Jacob Zuttah, Team Lead of the Research Performance Unit, the session examined alternative indicators of research impact beyond traditional citation metrics. Participants were introduced to key altmetrics and engaged in discussions on best practices for enhancing research citation and visibility. The session also highlighted institutional strategies at the University of Ghana aimed at improving overall research performance and global rankings.
The in-person session on 25th April, held at the RID Conference Room, marked the culmination of the training series. Themed “Protecting Innovation, Ensuring Integrity: IP and Ethics for Researchers,” it brought together faculty and doctoral students for an engaging day of discussion on intellectual property rights and the ethical dimensions of research.
Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of the Research, Innovation and Development Directorate (RID), who welcomed participants, emphasized the relevance of the training theme in a rapidly evolving research environment. He noted that the sessions align with the University’s strategic plan, which prioritizes support for faculty and staff as well as the promotion of impactful research. Professor Dodoo-Arhin stated that intellectual property and research ethics are critical components of the research process, as they help protect innovation and uphold academic integrity. He commended the College Grants Management Team, Ms. Deborah Akyeampon (Lead), and Ms. Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah for the initiative and for promoting a grantsmanship culture in COE. He also expressed appreciation to the College of Education for the strong partnership and continued commitment to capacity building.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the College, Mr. Joseph Oduro Nkansah, College Secretary, noted that the College of Education had made significant progress in expanding its grants portfolio. He added that the College supports faculty through the provision of seed funding and regular grant-writing workshops. “We look forward to establishing an ethics committee within the College to support our growing research community,” he stated.
Mrs. Diana Owusu-Antwi, Senior RDO of the Technology Transfer, Commercialization, and Intellectual Property unit, educated participants on key aspects of IP rights, including copyright, patents, trademarks, and the relevance of confidentiality clauses in research collaborations. Her presentation shed light on the importance of protecting innovations from unauthorized use and aligning research with legal frameworks.
The session on ethics took the form of a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Helena Baidoo of the Human and Animal Research Ethics Services (HARES). The panelists, Prof. George Essegbey, Prof. Lily Yarney, and Prof. Peace Tetteh, who are members of various ethical review boards, responded to several questions from participants on ethical considerations in research. They detailed the thorough review process undertaken by ethics boards, which are multi-disciplinary, hence capable of reviewing various types of protocols.
The panel advised that researchers must obtain ethical clearance before data collection, especially when human subjects are involved, to protect both participants and researchers.
In closing the session, the Grants Management team expressed their gratitude to members of the College of Education for actively participating in all the sessions.
The training series not only provided practical knowledge but also created a platform for faculty and students to engage, share experiences, and reflect on best practices in research development. As the University of Ghana continues to strive for excellence in research, capacity development remains a vital part of our strategic goals.