The School of Information and Communication Studies (SICS), University of Ghana, held the maiden edition of its new annual webinar series, "Pathways to Academic Career Growth," on Friday, 11th September 2026. The two-hour session, held on Microsoft Teams, drew over seventy participants- faculty, doctoral students and undergraduates from the University of Ghana and beyond.
Welcoming participants, Dean of SICS Professor Abena A. Yeboah-Banin explained that the webinar was designed to fill a gap in doctoral training: while PhD programmes prepare scholars to research and generate knowledge, they rarely address the everyday realities of academic life, managing time, balancing family and career, and coping with the pressure to publish. She said the series would become an annual fixture of the School's contribution to the University's broader goal of delivering transformative experiences for students and staff.
Moderated by Dr. Catherine Asamoah, the session featured three panelists: Professor Simon-Peter Kafui Aheto, Professor Monica Mensah Danquah, and Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, with Professor Robert Hinson and Professor Theodora Dame Adjin-Tetteh contributing from the floor.
Key Themes
Panelists agreed that academic career growth is a continuous journey rather than a fixed destination, shaped by intentionality, consistent planning and strong mentorship. They urged early-career academics to learn their university's promotion criteria early, document their work consistently, and build long-term plans rather than waiting for opportunities to come to them.
On the pressure to publish, panelists encouraged always keeping a manuscript in progress and setting realistic, personal annual targets while cautioning that publication counts should not come at the expense of family and wellbeing. The conversation also touched on navigating institutional politics, handling disappointment constructively, and balancing research with genuine investment in teaching, mentoring and service.
Looking Ahead
Closing the session, Professor Yeboah-Banin thanked the panelists for their candor and distilled the morning's discussion into three takeaways: the need for intentional, knowledge-informed career planning; taking charge of one's career path without being derailed by institutional politics; and broadening the definition of academic success beyond publication counts to include teaching impact, mentorship and service.
The webinar will now become an annual event under SICS's commitment to nurturing academic career growth, with future editions expected to build on the themes raised at this maiden session.