In a bid to bolster research endeavours, lecturers at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) have been encouraged to actively build and enhance their academic profiles to aid in securing funds for their research works during an inter-faculty lecture organised under the auspices of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID).

The initiative was part of UniMAC-DRID’s commitment to empower faculty members in securing funding for their research projects which sometimes become difficult and almost impossible for many researchers.

According to Dr Etse Sikanku, Director of DRID, Grant writing constitutes one of the major aspects of researchers as they seek external funding to undertake their research tasks, however, many researchers face difficulties in writing winning grant proposals. He thus indicated that the inter-faculty lecture was to bring faculty and staff up to speed with various elements and strategies embedded in the grant writing process.

Speaking on the topic ‘’Grant Writing Master class’’, Professor Akosua Darkwa, an Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies, at the University of Ghana, the resource person for the seminar, urged lecturers to ‘’build a name’’ for themselves to secure funds for their research works. She emphasised that building a robust academic profile ensures that researchers are not only visible but also positioned for success in securing funding for their research projects.

According to her, accessing research grants could sometimes be tedious and disappointing, however building a scholarly presence for oneself could make it easier for one to win grants for their research projects. She said, that investing time in building a strong academic profile not only increases the chances of securing funding but also facilitates collaborations and partnerships and once the proposal resonates with potential funders and aligns with their priorities researchers could win available grants.

Professor Darkwa therefore advised lecturers to build Google Scholar profiles if they do not have one already adding that they should also use professional email addresses when tendering in their research proposals.

Additionally, Professor Darkwa urged lecturers to increase their chances of winning grants by attending international conferences. She said scholars should “not be just local champions but be international champions as well by attending international conferences”, a way she says researchers will be known in the diaspora and help them win the grants.

While admitting that the grant landscape is highly competitive and researchers find difficulties in navigating the processes, Professor Darkwa said writing winning grants requires a strategic approach and resilience.

The possible challenges researchers could face include aligning research goals with funding priorities, effectively communicating the potential impact of the project, and having a deeper understanding of the various grant funders and their application processes she indicated.

Professor Darkwa explained that researchers must therefore be as clear as possible in defining their research goals and objectives. She said doing that will potentially convince funders to release the funds since they do not release funds for releasing sake. According to her, grant makers sometimes have broad topics, however, researchers could be creative and think outside the box in linking their goals and objectives to that of grant makers.

She added that researchers should be able to communicate to funders what gap their research will be filling and the potential outcomes to expect after the research.

Speaking on the various grant funders and their application processes, Professor Darkwa listed various research funders available for researchers. Amongst the list included the Africa Institute, Iso Lomso Fellowships, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), and the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA). She then gave some tips and guidelines researchers could follow to win grants from various institutions and urged lecturers to take time to read further on their websites.

Research plays a pivotal role in ensuring the progress of societies as it helps in solving complex problems. Over the years, research has helped institutions and organizations in making informed decisions which ultimately lead to their development. The impact of research extends far beyond the walls of academic institutions. It serves as the catalyst for innovation in industries, driving economic growth and creating a ripple effect that touches several aspects of society.

The seminar concluded that UniMAC-DRID will continue to organise workshops and mentorship programs to demystify the grant application processes for research projects which has always been an integral component of academic institutions.