CeRCCA Launches Faculty Capacity-Building Workshop Series at SCA-UEW
The Centre for Research, Culture and Creative Arts (CeRCCA) at the School of Creative Arts (SCA), University of Education, Winneba (UEW) held the first in a series of faculty development workshops on Tuesday, 27th January, 2026, at the SCA Conference Room under the theme “Elevating Faculty Expertise in the School of Creative Arts, UEW”.
The workshop, which brought together faculty members and graduate students of the School, formed part of CeRCCA’s deliberate efforts to strengthen research, supervision, publication and ethical practices within the creative arts discipline. Dr. Samuel Ako-Mensah moderated the session.
Opening the workshop, Prof. Emmanuel Obed Acquah, the Dean of SCA, described the programme as timely and strategic, emphasising that it was designed as a capacity-building initiative rather than a fault-finding exercise. He noted that the School of Creative Arts operates at the intersection of creativity, ethics, innovation and excellence, making continuous reflection and skills enhancement imperative for faculty development.
Prof. Acquah commended staff members for their commitment to professional growth, particularly their willingness to balance teaching responsibilities with participation in the workshop. He explained that the carefully selected topics were intended to build faculty capacity as scholars, supervisors, reviewers and creative researchers while also enhancing the quality and credibility of academic outputs within the School.
The Dean of SCA encouraged active participation, open dialogue and the sharing of experiences, expressing optimism that the knowledge gained would positively influence teaching, research, supervision and creative practice within the School. He also called on faculty members to volunteer as peer reviewers, particularly for the School’s emerging academic journal, as part of efforts to strengthen internal scholarly systems.
The workshop featured a series of thought-provoking presentations delivered by senior academics. Prof. Ernest Kwasi Amponsah led a session on mastering research supervision in artistic research while Prof. Emmanuel Rexford Kodwo Amissah addressed effective supervision of theses and long essays. Prof. Osuanyi Quarcoo Essel spoke on the art of peer review in research, highlighting the importance of credibility, rigour and scholarly responsibility in the review process.
Further discussions focused on ethical considerations in research and publishing. Prof. Emmanuel Obed Acquah delivered a presentation on research editorial ethics, underscoring the need for integrity and professionalism in scholarly publishing. Prof. Joseph Essuman addressed the ethical use of photography in research, drawing attention to consent, representation and responsible visual documentation.
The final presentation, delivered by Prof. Patrique deGraft-Yankson, the Director of CeRCCA, examined the use of generative artificial intelligence in creative arts and research with particular emphasis on ethical considerations. He cautioned that while AI tools can enhance research efficiency, they must be used responsibly and should not compromise scholarly integrity.
Prof. deGraft-Yankson described the workshop as the first in a planned series of similar engagements aimed at refreshing faculty knowledge and equipping staff for evolving academic and creative demands. He assured participants that future workshops would address additional areas of professional development including promotion processes and emerging curricular issues while encouraging continuous engagement and feedback to shape subsequent sessions.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to apply the insights gained towards enhancing research quality, ethical practice and faculty expertise at the School of Creative Arts, UEW.
