Faculty and staff of LECERP and SICS pose for a group photograph after their meeting to explore areas of collaboration
The Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LECERP) and the School of Information and Communication Studies (SICS) at the University of Ghana are exploring opportunities for collaboration to strengthen the communication and dissemination of education research and promote its uptake in policy and practice in Ghana and beyond.
This emerged at an introductory meeting between the two units held on Wednesday, 30th September, 2026, which provided a platform for faculty and staff to share their expertise, discuss common interests and identify opportunities for collaboration in research, consultancy, training and capacity building.
Welcoming participants, the Dean of SICS, Prof. Abena Yeboah-Banin, explained that the meeting was intended to help both units gain a better understanding of each other's work and identify areas where their expertise could complement one another. She observed that although the School had traditionally established partnerships beyond the University, there was considerable scope to strengthen collaboration with other units within the University.
Prof. Yeboah-Banin outlined SICS's expertise in communication, information studies, media and public engagement, development communication, digital communication, media and information literacy, and gender and inequality. She noted that these areas presented opportunities for the School to support LECERP's work, particularly in research communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement. She also highlighted the potential contribution of the Department of Information Studies to projects requiring expertise in data management, information systems and digitisation.
Providing an overview of LECERP's work, the Centre's Director, Dr. Clement Adamba, highlighted its focus on research, training and capacity building, as well as advocacy and policy engagement. He explained that the Centre's work goes beyond generating research evidence to ensuring that findings reach teachers, parents, communities, practitioners and policymakers in ways that inform decision-making and practice.
Dr. Adamba stressed that effective communication was critical to improving research uptake, particularly as research funders increasingly required evidence of how research findings influenced policy and practice. He therefore underscored the need for communication strategies that translate research findings into accessible and relevant information for different audiences.
He also highlighted some of the Centre's engagements with funders and ongoing projects that could benefit from stronger communication and data management support. Among these was a data harmonisation project involving the alignment of data systems, the development of shared definitions of indicators and aspects of digitisation. He suggested that collaboration with the Department of Information Studies would enable the Centre to draw on relevant expertise within the University to advance such initiatives.
Adding to the discussion, a Research Fellow at LECERP, Dr. Innocent Agbelie, welcomed the proposed areas of collaboration, particularly SICS's expertise in media engagement and communication. He observed that stronger media networks could enhance the visibility of the Centre's research and improve its engagement with media organisations and wider audiences.
Similarly, the Head of the Department of Communication Studies, Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, described the proposed partnership as mutually beneficial. She noted that it would provide opportunities for faculty members to apply their expertise through research, consultancy and training, while expanding the School's partnerships and potential funding opportunities.
The discussions further identified opportunities for joint research and interdisciplinary studies that bring together education and communication perspectives. Both units also explored the possibility of jointly developing research proposals and grant applications from the conceptualisation stage, ensuring that communication and research uptake considerations are incorporated into projects from the outset.
The engagement marks a step towards strengthening collaboration within the University and harnessing complementary expertise to improve the visibility, accessibility and practical application of research evidence. Through such partnerships, LECERP and SICS seek to contribute to stronger connections between research, policy and practice.
Also present at the meeting were Dr. Martin Wiredu Agyekum, Research Fellow; Mr. John Baptiste Akanwake and Ms. Justina Addai, Principal Research Assistants; and Ms. Audrey Djarbeng, Administrative Secretary, all from LECERP. Also from SICS was Mr. Kwame Klevor, Senior Administrative Assistant.