IERIS-UEW Explores Research Collaboration with NaSIA to Strengthen Quality Education
A seven-member delegation from the Institute for Educational Research and Innovation Studies (IERIS) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has paid a working visit to the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) to explore avenues for research collaboration aimed at improving the quality of education in Ghana.
The meeting, held on Thursday, 12th March, 2026, brought together officials from both institutions to discuss potential partnerships in educational research, data sharing and policy-relevant studies that could support national education reforms.
Leading the UEW delegation, Prof. Richard Addai-Mununkum, Head of the National Centre for Research into Basic Education (NCRIBE), conveyed warm greetings from the Vice-Chancellor of UEW and the Director of IERIS. He noted that the visit formed part of the institute’s renewed commitment to strengthening ties between academic research and educational practice.
Prof. Addai-Mununkum explained that universities are often perceived as “ivory towers,” detached from real-world practice. However, he said IERIS had, over the past year, intensified efforts to engage practitioners in the field to ensure that research findings translate into practical impact while real-life experiences also inform academic enquiry.
“Our institute is the central hub for educational research at the University. We are therefore keen on building stronger partnerships with agencies under the Ministry of Education so that our research aligns with national priorities and contributes meaningfully to educational development,” he said.
He further indicated that IERIS has planned engagements with key institutions within the education sector this year to better understand their operations and identify areas where collaborative research could support policy and practice.
Responding to the delegation, Prof. Salifu Tahiru Azeko, the Inspector-General of Schools at NaSIA, welcomed the initiative and described the visit as timely and beneficial to both institutions.
He explained that NaSIA serves as the regulatory body responsible for inspecting and assuring quality in pre-tertiary schools across Ghana. The Authority evaluates compliance with national standards in areas such as teaching and learning, infrastructure, school environment and overall student welfare.
Prof. Azeko, who previously worked in academia before assuming leadership at NaSIA, emphasised the importance of integrating research into the Authority’s work. According to him, NaSIA possesses extensive data gathered through nationwide school inspections which could be valuable for research aimed at improving Ghana’s education system.
“We have a lot of data from our inspection activities and we must move beyond monitoring to also undertake research that informs educational policy and practice. Collaborating with IERIS-UEW will help us transform this data into meaningful research that benefits the country,” he said.
He also expressed personal commitment to sustaining research and scholarly publication while serving at NaSIA, noting that partnerships with universities would strengthen the Authority’s research capacity.
The meeting concluded with both institutions expressing optimism about building a strategic partnership that would leverage NaSIA’s field data and UEW’s research expertise to advance evidence-based decision-making in Ghana’s education sector.
The engagement forms part of IERIS-UEW’s broader effort to strengthen collaboration with national education agencies and ensure that research conducted by the university contributes directly to improving teaching, learning and educational outcomes across the country.
