ORID Partners BSU to Build Research Management Capacity

The Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID) in partnership with the Building Stronger Universities (BSU) initiative Phase III held a skills development workshop to strengthen research support services offered to the University community. 
Welcoming participants to the 3-day workshop, Professor Francis Dodoo, Pro Vice-Chancellor (RID) emphasized the need for all to appreciate the processes involved in grantsmanship and grants administration to ensure an efficient system for donors/partners, researchers and the University as a whole.

Mr. Christian Gregart, facilitator for the workshop

The 3-day workshop was on the theme “Building Capacity and Skills to Enhance Research Grants and Contracts Management Processes” was facilitated by Mr. Christian Gregart, a Danish consultant on the BSU III programme and was attended by research management staff responsible for grants and contracts management in ORID and also finance office staff from ORID, CBAS and NMIMR.
The primary learning objectives of the workshop was:

•  To provide all participants with a deeper appreciation of processing and financial management of contracts and grants.
•  Redefining the process cycle for managing the University’s grants and contracts to deliver efficient and effective support services.
•  Providing high quality financial management services to researchers to enable them to meet the funders requirements.
•  To develop needed policies, guidelines and/or SOPs.

At the end of the 3-day workshop, participants had gained the requisite knowledge and skills required to streamline grants and contracts processes, eliminate duplication and parallel systems which impede the delivery of effective and efficient research support services.

Participants at the workshop

In his closing remarks, the Pro Vice-Chancellor noted that as ORID strives to provide high-quality research support services and management, staff involved in the processes must be abreast with current trends in research management and ensure the prudent use of financial management tools to judiciously use funds available for research.  He expressed gratitude to Mr. Gregart for his insightful presentations throughout the sessions and assured him, ORID will work closely with him to implement the measures discussed. He thanked the participants for being present throughout the period and hoped that the lessons learnt will be applied by all to enhance our services.

Group Picture of the participants with the Pro VC, Prof. Francis Dodoo