The School of Information and Communication Studies (SICS) has established a Grants Committee as part of efforts to strengthen research funding and enhance scholarly output. The initiative, led by the Dean,Prof. Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin, aligns with the School’s priority to deepen scholarship while contributing to the University’s broader strategic focus on impactful research and global engagement.

At its maiden meeting, the Dean outlined the rationale for the Committee, noting that much of the School’s research is currently self-funded or supported through limited resources. This, she explained, often constrains the scale, scope, and reach of research activities. The Committee is therefore tasked with proactively identifying funding opportunities and coordinating competitive grant applications to support more ambitious, collaborative, and interdisciplinary research.

The Committee comprises faculty from both the Department of Information Studies and the Department of Communication Studies, supported by administrative staff. The former Dean, Prof. Akosua Keseboa Darkwah, a scholar with extensive grant acquisition experience will serve as advisor to the Committee. 

Deliberations at the meeting emphasised a flexible and collaborative approach to grant writing. Members agreed to work in smaller, task-oriented sub-teams based on specific funding calls, allowing expertise to be effectively matched to opportunities. This model is expected to enable the School to pursue multiple grants concurrently while maintaining quality and competitiveness.

The importance of strategic planning, careful attention to application requirements, and readiness to respond to time-sensitive opportunities were also highlighted. Members further underscored the need to leverage institutional support, particularly through closer engagement with the College Research Office, to provide technical assistance in areas such as budgeting, compliance, and grant administration.

Beyond securing funding, the initiative is expected to create wider opportunities for faculty and postgraduate students. These include support for conference participation, research dissemination, and doctoral training, as well as the potential to strengthen interdisciplinary and international collaborations.

The establishment of the Grants Committee marks a proactive step by SICS towards building a sustainable research funding culture and positioning the School as a competitive contributor to knowledge production within Ghana and beyond.