DRID-UEW Empowers Female Faculty with Grant Proposal Writing Skills
The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has hosted an innovative workshop to equip female faculty with essential grant proposal writing skills.
The workshop, spanning five days, aimed to transform participants' perspectives and empower them to drive innovative research. The programme's structured format combined virtual sessions with an in-person meeting, maximising engagement and knowledge sharing.
The workshop brought together approximately 90 participants from various academic disciplines. The virtual sessions provided a robust platform for intensive training on grant writing techniques, research ethics, and the nuances of securing funding for research projects.
The in-person session at the Students Centre Seminar Room III, allowed participants to showcase their newly acquired skills. Attendees presented proposals tackling pressing global challenges, including climate change, education reform, health advancements, and improved sanitation. These projects highlight critical issues and demonstrate innovative approaches to data collection and solution implementation, underscoring the participants' commitment to impactful research.
Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, Director of DRID-UEW and a facilitator for the workshop, emphasised the importance of the training in levelling the playing field for female researchers. "Empowering women in academia to pursue and secure research funding is crucial; it is about changing perceptions and enabling impactful contributions to academia and society at large," she stated.
Prof. Peter Akayuure, the principal coordinator, stressed in an interview that the project was successful because it prepared participants to write grant proposals, create technical and financial plans, and deal with eligibility concerns. He underlined the main objective of the workshop as enabling female faculty members to undertake influential research by changing their perspectives.
Prof. Akayuure pointed out that a WhatsApp platform had been created for ongoing interaction and guidance to ensure sustainability. He indicated that participants would receive support in fine-tuning their proposals, meeting deadlines, and submitting applications to funding agencies.
Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing newfound confidence and ambition to pursue larger research grants. "This experience has been transformative. It is not just about skills; it is about the mindset shift that I can contribute significantly to global research narratives," Ms. Cynthia Jebuni-Adanu, a workshop participant, said.
The initiative, spearheaded by Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, Prof. Peter Akayuure and Ms. Dorcas Attuabea Addo, was funded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities. It marks a significant step towards promoting research excellence and gender equality at UEW.
UEW's commitment to supporting and advancing the careers of its female faculty through practical training highlights a broader institutional goal of fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking academic community. The workshop sets a precedent for similar initiatives to nurture research professionals well-equipped to deal with contemporary challenges through innovation and scholarly distinction.
