The College of Education (COE) Grant Management Office, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, has launched a monthly grantmanship workshop aimed at equipping faculty and researchers with the expertise to secure competitive research funding.
Speaking at the opening session, Ms Deborah Akyeampon, a Research Development Officer in the College’s Grants Management Office, reaffirmed the office’s commitment to supporting faculty throughout the grant application process. She highlighted the growing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in today’s research landscape, which led the office to engage an expert with cross-disciplinary research experience to guide participants. She then encouraged participants to engage actively in all sessions.
Professor Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe, Provost of the College of Education, underscored the increasing significance of research grants in sustaining the University of Ghana’s finances. He cited an analysis of the University’s annual reports and financial statements since 2011, which revealed that government subvention, academic fees and research grants collectively account for nearly 90% of the university’s revenue. However, government support has declined from over 90% to about 55% in the past decade, making research grants a crucial funding source. “A research-intensive University must embrace grant acquisition as a cornerstone of its financial strategy,” he stated.
Upon assuming office, Professor Codjoe found that COE faculty had secured just 0.2% of external research funding and 2.7% of internal research funds, with only 1% of faculty serving as principal investigators. Determined to reverse this trajectory, he prioritised fostering a strong research grant culture within the College. His strategy included organising workshops, establishing departmental research teams and setting a target for each of the College’s 8 departments to secure at least one project.
Today, the College of Education’s grant portfolio has grown to over USD 8,000, Prof. Codjoe revealed. Additionally, the newly established Legon Centre for Education, Research and Policy serves as a hub for research activities, with the number of Research Fellows increasing from 1 to 4. Eight departmental research teams have also been formed, positioning the College for greater success in grant acquisition.
Professor Codjoe stressed that securing more research grants in the future would enable the College to reinvest research overheads into administration, infrastructure development and scholarships for training master’s and doctoral-level research scientists. He urged participants to take full advantage of the workshop to enhance their grant-writing skills.
The keynote speaker, Professor Gladys Nyarko Ansah from the Department of English under the College of Humanities, led a session themed "From Concept to Funded Project." She provided valuable insights into conceptualising and crafting research proposals that attract funding, along with guidance on identifying promising research concepts. The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment, allowing participants to seek further clarification and practical advice.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah, a Research Development Officer in the COE Grant Management Office, expressed gratitude to the Provost for setting the tone for the workshop, to the speaker for her invaluable insights, and to all participants for their active involvement. She commended the organisers for their dedication to making the event a success and underscored the importance of continued participation in similar initiatives.