The Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIR) of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has organized an online seminar for its faculty and administrative staff on Successful Grant Proposal Writing.

The seminar was facilitated by Professor of Agriculture and Applied Economics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, Professor Conrad P. Lyford.

The seminar aimed at providing guidance for the university’s teaching and administrative staff on how to successfully obtain grants for their research works and other administrative duties.

Professor Lyford stated that some people do not attempt to write grants because they consider it to be too much work. He took participants through a step-by-step interactive process on how to write winning grant proposals and improve their chances of funding success.

He added that participants should do well to ask administrators of grant institutions questions in order to ensure that they submit the right proposal for the right grants, and also, to know which grants are available.

Participants were also encouraged to build connections and collaborations in order to ensure that they are well informed about the grants they write for as well as others that have written similar proposals or have pursued similar projects.

The Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, Dr. Abdulai Abubakari said the seminar was the second of such seminars to have been organised by the IIR this year. He said it became necessary to organise the seminar for the second time because of the numerous requests the institute continues to receive from staff of the University, following the success of the first seminar.

The scores of people who participated in the seminar included administrators, lecturers, research assistants among others from various Directorates and faculties of the university. They expressed their pleasure at the opportunity given them by the IIR and hoped for more of such seminars in the future.

Also in attendance was the Head of Department for Research and Grants Support, Dr. Mamudu A. Akudugu, Head of Department for Evidence, Planning and Policy, Dr. Abukari Wumbei, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Cultural Studies, Dr. Mahama Edward Salifu, and other faculty and administrative staff of the university.

Story by:
Salma Abdul-Rashid (University Relations)