A five-day Research Summer School aimed at providing vital skillset in grant proposal writing, scientific writing and publication, research excellence leadership skills development and short-term monitoring for academics, business leaders and civil society organisations has opened at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Organised by the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC), it also seeks to build the capacity of researchers in and outside UCC in research-related issues.

At the end of the Summer School, participants will be equipped with core skills and tools on article writing, grant proposal writing researcher visibility, time and stress management, and scientific presentation skills.

Others are Qualitative and Quantitative Research Data Analyses and Management; Planning and Project Management; and Research, Ethics and Stewardship.

Prof. David Teye Doku - DRIC Director

In his welcoming address, the Director of DRIC, Prof. David Teye Doku, said the mandate of DRIC-UCC was to promote research excellence and grants-making not only within UCC, but also across Ghana and Africa.

“In pursuit of that mandate,” he continued: “UCC, through DRIC, has promoted and increased the quality and quantity of its research outputs over the past half-decade by encouraging publication of scientific papers in Scopus indexed journals.”

According to Prof. Doku, the remarkable effort of DRIC had contributed to the sterling performance of UCC in the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2022 which placed UCC as the number one University in Ghana and West Africa, and number four in Africa.

A section of participants in the research summer school

Admitting that there was vast room for improvement, the DRIC Director insisted that there was no doubt that UCC had emerged as a leader in research excellence in Ghana and Africa.

“UCC has also made strides in attracting grants and implementing research projects of various scales,” he said.

Prof. Doku also entreated the participants to take advantage of the Summer School to meet new people, exchange ideas, and build a support network.

He expressed the hope that the Summer School would assist participants to acquire new knowledge to upgrade performance at their various workplaces.

The facilitators at the Summer School include Prof. David Teye Doku, Prof. Frederick Ato Armah, Prof. Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, Prof. Enu-Kwesi, Prof. Akwasi Kumi-Kyeremeh, Dr. Prince Justin Anku, Dr. Brandford Bervell, Dr. Francis Annor, and Dr. Millicent Aning-Agyei. The rest are Dr. Alex Boadi Dankyi, Dr. Akua Tiwaa Buabeng-Boateng, and Mr. Isaac Nketsiah.

Source: Documentation and Information Section