The Grants Management and Research Support Unit of the College of Education at the University of Ghana has organised a workshop aimed at strengthening the grant proposal writing capacity of researchers within the College.

Held on Wednesday, 24th September, 2025, at the Adult Education and Human Resource Studies Conference Room, the workshop formed the first session of a two-part training series for members of the Departmental Research Committees (DRCs). The initiative seeks to equip faculty with practical skills to develop competitive research proposals and improve the College’s success in securing external research funding.

Delivering the welcome address, Ms. Deborah Akeampon, College Grants Officer highlighted the importance of building the capacity of faculty members to write strong grant proposals. She noted that competitive research funding remains critical for advancing research excellence and institutional development, particularly in the context of limited internal funding for research.

Professor David Dodoo-Arhin delivering a presentation

The main presentation was delivered by Professor David Dodoo-Arhin, Director of the Research and Innovation Directorate, who facilitated an interactive session that allowed participants to reflect on their experiences and challenges in grant writing. Participants discussed key questions relating to common obstacles in proposal development, lessons learned from past experiences, and the most critical components of a successful grant proposal.

Professor Dodoo-Arhin delivered two presentations titled “Writing Grants: Drafting Proposals that Stand Out” and “From Idea to Impact: Designing Methodology and Implementation Plans.” He emphasised the importance of ensuring that proposal titles align closely with the research content and urged researchers to address ethical considerations carefully in their proposals.

A cross-section of participants

He also encouraged researchers to collaborate with experienced scholars and established experts in their fields to strengthen credibility and enhance research partnerships. In addition, he advised participants to pursue smaller grants initially in order to build a solid track record before applying for larger funding opportunities.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Sylvia Antwiwaah Sarbah, College Grants Officer, thanked participants for their strong turnout and expressed appreciation to Professor Dodoo-Arhin for delivering the insightful presentation. She urged researchers to carefully study Request for Proposals (RFPs), noting that these documents contain essential guidance for preparing competitive submissions.

A cress-section of participants

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by the College of Education to strengthen research capacity and enhance its competitiveness in securing external grants. Participants were informed that the second session of the workshop series will be organised in the next academic year and will be facilitated by Professor Richmond Aryeetey of the School of Public Health.