Members of the Ghana Association of University Administrators at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GAUA-KNUST) have undergone capacity building in peer-reviewed publishing and grantsmanship as part of the association’s maiden week-long celebration.

The initiative, themed “Driving Excellence in University Administration: Innovation for Impact,” sought to enhance administrative effectiveness through innovation and professional development.

Dr. Vincent Ankamah Lomotey, former Registrar of the C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, delivering a presentation on peer-reviewed publishing, encouraged administrators to see publishing as central to their professional growth and contributions to the academic community.

“When you publish, you contribute to higher education administration roles and professional development,” he said.

He argued that publishing was not just an academic exercise but a way for administrators to demonstrate value, gain recognition, and remain current in their fields.

“Without sharing your insights publicly, your contributions risk being invisible,” he noted.

Dr. Lomotey urged participants to focus their writing on innovative practices in administration and follow established publishing standards.

He advised administrators to start with familiar material, including theses or institutional papers, and collaborate with peers. “Once you start, don’t stop,” he added.

Speaking on grantsmanship, Dr. Nadia Tagoe, a Senior Lecturer in Global Health at KNUST and former Senior Grants and Research Manager, emphasized the strategic value of securing grants for administrators aiming to make a broader impact.

“Our role is not just management and administrative, we need to contribute to new knowledge in policies and practices,” she said. She noted that grant-winning efforts could lead to professional advancement, influence policy, and turn creative ideas into measurable outcomes.

Dr. Tagoe encouraged members to be intentional about improving their grant writing skills, urging persistence despite the likelihood of rejection.

“Be deliberate, consistent, persistent and determined,” she said. “Once you get it, you’re in.”

The training session also included breakout discussions, where members exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and explored practical strategies for implementing the insights gained.