In an effort to bolster research endeavours, lecturers at the University of Media, Arts, and Communication (UniMAC) were encouraged to actively build and enhance their academic profiles to aid in securing funds for their research works during an interfaculty lecture organized under the auspices of the Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Development (DRID).
The initiative was part of UniMAC-DRID’s commitment to empower faculty members in securing funding for their research projects, which sometimes become difficult and almost impossible for many researchers.
According to Dr. Etse Sikanku, Director of DRID, grants constitute one the major sources of funding for academic research; however, many researchers face difficulties in writing winning grant proposals. He thus indicated that the inter-faculty lecture was to bring faculty and staff up to speed with various elements and strategies embedded in the grant writing process.
Speaking on the topic ‘’Grant Writing Masterclass,’’ Professor Akosua Darkwa, an Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, the resource person for the seminar, admonished lecturers to ‘’build a name’’ for themselves in order to secure funds for their research works. She emphasized that building a robust academic profile ensures that researchers are not only visible but also positioned for success in securing funding for their research projects.
According to her, accessing grants for research could sometimes be tedious and disappointing; however, building scholarly presence for oneself could make it easier for them to win grants for their research projects. She said investing time in building a strong academic profile not only increases the chances of securing funding but also facilitates collaborations and partnerships, and once the proposal resonates with potential funders and aligns with their priorities, researchers could win available grants. Professor Darkwa therefore advised lecturers to build a Google Scholar profile if they do not have one already, adding that they should also use a professional email address when tendering their research proposals.
Additionally, Professor Darkwa urged lecturers to increase their chances of winning grants by attending international conferences. She said scholars should ‘’not be just local champions but be international champions as well by attending international conferences’’, a way she says researchers will be known in the diaspora and help them win grants.
While admitting to the fact that the grant landscape is highly competitive and researchers find difficulties in navigating the processes, Professor Darkwa said writing winning grants requires strategic approaches and resilience.
The possible challenges researchers could face include aligning research goals with funding priorities, effectively communicating the potential impact of the project, and having a deeper understanding of the various grant funders and their application processes, she indicated.
Professor Darkwa explained that researchers must therefore be as clear as possible in defining their research goals and objectives. She said doing that will potentially convince funders to release the funds since they do not release funds for the sake of releasing them. According to her, grant makers sometimes have broad topics; however, researchers could be creative and think outside the box in linking their goals and objectives to those of grant makers. She added that researchers should be able to communicate to funders what gap their research will be filling and the potential outcomes to expect after the research.
Speaking on the various grant funders and their application processes, Professor Darkwa listed various research funders available for researchers. Amongst the list included the Africa Institute, Iso Lomso Fellowships, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), and the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA). She then gave some tips and guidelines researchers could follow to win grants from the various institutions and urged lecturers to take time to read further on their websites.
Research plays a pivotal role in ensuring the progress of societies as it helps in solving complex problems. Over the years, research has helped institutions and organizations in making informed decisions which ultimately lead to their development. The impact of research extends far beyond the walls of academic institutions. It serves as the catalyst for innovation in industries, driving economic growth, and creating a ripple effect that touches several aspects of society.
The seminar concluded that UniMAC-DRID will continue to organize workshops and mentorship programs aimed at demystifying the grant application processes for research projects, which have always been an integral component of academic institutions.
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