UEW Research Fellows Urged to Intensify Grantsmanship Efforts
The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID) has urged Research Fellows at the Institute for Educational Research and Innovation Studies (IERIS) of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) to intensify their efforts in securing grants.
The advice was given at a day’s workshop on grantsmanship held at the IERIS Conference Room on Thursday, 14th November, 2024. The event, aimed at enhancing the research capacity of IERIS faculty members, equipped participants with the skills, knowledge, and strategies needed to secure grants and funding for their research projects.
Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, Director of DRID, UEW, encouraged the research fellows to take ownership of their research and develop proposals that can attract funding. She stated that grantsmanship is a collective effort that requires collaboration and teamwork.
She emphasised the importance of perseverance and resilience when facing rejection. She shared her personal experience of submitting several proposals without success but stressed that researchers should not be discouraged by rejection and should continue to try.
Prof. Daniel Yelkpieri, Director of IERIS-UEW, advised participants to embrace continuous learning and proactive approaches to grantsmanship. He underscored the importance of cultivating a positive attitude towards professional growth. He stated, “We must continuously sharpen our skills to remain prepared for the challenges of research.” He likened the need for knowledge among researchers to the way the sea is constantly replenished by rivers. He also emphasised the importance of teamwork and professional attitude in achieving excellence.
Dr. Philip Siaw Kissi, Coordinator for Research, Grant Sourcing and Proposal Development at DRID, emphasised the importance of utilising online platforms to access grant opportunities. He pointed out various online platforms such as Funds for NGOs and GrantWay that researchers could leverage to access grant opportunities. He showed how to navigate these platforms, highlighting their features and benefits. He also stressed the importance of subscribing to premium services for accessing timely and relevant grant opportunities.
Dr. Kissi encouraged participants to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) tools to search for grant opportunities in addition to online platforms. He also stressed the importance of checking newspapers and other local sources for grant announcements.
Dr. Bernard B. B. Bingab, Deputy Director of DRID, underscored the importance of carefully reading and understanding the requirements of grant applications. He indicated that grant writers should not assume they understand everything about project management and should seek help when needed.
He also stressed the need for a clear and concise problem statement, which should be supported by data and linked to the funder's interest. He advised grant writers to break down their objectives into manageable units and develop a detailed work plan, including timelines and milestones.
Dr. Bingab highlighted the importance of inclusivity in project teams, ensuring that team members have the necessary expertise and clearly defined roles. He also stressed the need for regular progress reporting, demonstrating how and when progress would be reported, to whom, and by whom. Dr. Bingab encouraged researchers to seek help from DRID's office, which is open to providing support and guidance throughout the grant writing process.
The workshop, which also covered the importance of monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, and financial management, featured three presentations from experts in the field.
Dr. Martin Wiredu Agyekum, a senior lecturer at UEW, presented on the topic "Surmounting the Challenges in Winning Grants." He emphasised the importance of building partnerships and collaborations in grant writing, citing his own experiences in securing grants for research projects.
The second presentation was delivered by Mr. Cosmos Dzikunu, the Head of the Centre for Educational Policy Studies (CEPS) at IERIS-UEW. He discussed his proposal for a study on the Galactic Appraise, a teacher award programme in Ghana. Mr. Dzikunu emphasised the importance of effective leadership in STEM education and proposed a framework for developing STEM leadership programmes in the country.
The third presentation was delivered by Dr. Victus Kumazah, a research fellow at the Centre for School and Community Science and Technology Studies (SACOST), IERIS, who presented a project proposal on STEM education leadership in Ghana. He emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to STEM education, including developing STEM leadership programmes, and proposed a framework for implementing such programmes in Ghana.
Participants expressed appreciation for the knowledge and insights gained from the presentations. They emphasised the need for continued support and training in grant writing to enhance the research capacity of the university.
This workshop is part of UEW’s broader initiative to build the research capacities among its faculty members, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of educational innovation and research. As the demand for effective educational practices continues to rise, the commitment to secure adequate funding through grantsmanship has never been more crucial.
