CBAS/FARA ORGANISES CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR PLATFORM SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS
IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
(Participants in a group photograph)
The College of Basic and Applied Sciences in collaboration with Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) has organized a two-day Capacity Building Workshop for Innovative Platform Scientists, Deans/Directors of Schools/Institutes/Centers, Heads of Department/Centers, and selected Researchers (who have ongoing projects in the College) in Financial Management and Research Administration. The workshop took place on the 13th and 14th of January, 2016 at the Center for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon.
The Facilitators for the workshop included: Mrs. Norah Sowa (out-going CBAS Finance Officer), Mr. Sampson Addo (Research Development Officer), Mrs. Vesta Nunoo (FARA) and Mrs Angelina Awere-Kyere (the Head of UG’s Procurement Unit). The key objective of the 2-day workshop was to build the capacity of all scientists associated with the Citrus Innovation Platform Project, Deans, Heads of Departments, Directors and other selected researchers within the College of Basic and Applied Sciences on research project financial management, procurement management and research administration
(Provost, CBAS delivering his opening remarks)
In his opening remarks, the Provost, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, commended FARA for collaborating with the College to organize such an important workshop for the researchers. He reiterated the need for Scientist/researchers to involve support staff (Finance/Research) in their research development and management processes in order to help the University to attain its aim of becoming a world class research-intensive University. He also encouraged participants to study the financial regulations as well as the research policy document of the University of Ghana to ensure full compliance to regulations and policies.
In his statement, Mr. Emmanuel Baidoo (College Secretary), said that in order to achieve the twin goals of efficiency and effectiveness, there is the need for employees to give off their best in their research as well as administrative activities. He added that the workshop is key to the successful implementation of the research agenda of the College in particular and the University as a whole.
Day one of the workshop focused on Research Project Initiation/Development, Budgeting and Procurement. In his presentation, Mr. Sampson Addo gave a general overview of the current research processes within the College.
(Participants listening attentively to a presentation)
Mrs. Vesta Nunoo highlighted the need to involve qualified support staff in the proposal development stage of research during her presentation. Focusing on budgeting, Mrs. Norah Sowa gave a presentation on the need for full cost recovery and disbursement of research project funds for the smooth running of research activities. The final presentation of the day by Mrs. Angela Awere-Kyere focused on the development of procurement plans and the need for researchers to know about the University of Ghana’s procurement processes and procedures to enhance research activities.
Day two of the workshop touched on Reporting and Research Administration. Focusing on financial reporting, Mrs. Sowa, gave a presentation on the responsibilities of researchers and the Finance Office in ensuring the timely submission of financial reports to Donors.
Mr. Addo presented on research administration highlighting support available to researchers from pre-award to post-award of research project contract.
The final presentation on the development of standard templates for reporting and documentations was given by Mrs. Sowa. She focused on the use of standard templates for requesting of funds as well as reporting on the progress of projects in order to ensure the timely release of funds to researchers and timely submission of reports to Donors.
After the presentations, general discussion and evaluation of the workshop, the general consensus was that there was the need to organize the workshop annually for new researchers as part of their orientation as well as for existing researchers who were not able to participate.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Sowa thanked FARA for collaborating with the College to organize the workshop for the researchers. She expressed the hope that the workshop will go a long way to enhance the level of collaboration between the Finance office and researchers in their project activities and also help researchers to take advantage of the financial, procurement and research management systems, standards and processes available in the College to ensure the successful implementation of their research projects. This will lead to research intensification in the College and ultimately enhance the international image of the University.