Keynote Address on Research Excellence

• Frederick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • Defining Research Excellence: What it means in terms of quality, innovation, and impact. • The role of integrity, rigor, and reproducibility in research. • Highlighting examples of research excellence from different fields. • Interactive Q&A: Participants can ask questions based on their specific research domains.

Understanding Research Ethics

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • Overview of ethical considerations in the research process: Informed consent, confidentiality, conflict of interest, data integrity. • The importance of ethical review boards and protocols. • Case Study Exercise: Participants will review a case study involving ethical dilemmas in research and discuss possible solutions.

Best Practices for Designing High-Impact Research

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • Strategies for developing innovative research questions and hypotheses. • Research design: quantitative vs. qualitative, mixed methods, and interdisciplinary approaches. • Open Science Wheel: https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Wheel_of_Open_Science_practices_image_/4628014/2?file=7564978 • Engaging with stakeholders and community involvement in the research process. • Interactive Exercise: Participants will brainstorm research topics in small groups and develop a clear research question.

Ensuring Rigor and Reproducibility in Your Research

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • The importance of transparent methodologies, data sharing, and open access. • How to ensure research validity, avoid bias, and maintain high standards of data integrity. • The use of reporting guidelines in qualitative (SRQR, COREQ), quantitative (STROBE), systematic reviews (PRISMA) and mixed methods research. Examples from the EQUATOR Network. See https://www.equator-network.org/ • Discussion: Researchers share their personal strategies for maintaining rigor in their work. • Reporting Guideline Decision Tree: https://www.equator-network.org/toolkits/selecting-the-appropriate-reporting-guideline/

Writing an Effective Research Proposal Room: Conference Room • The components of a strong research proposal: Introduction, methodology, objectives, expected impact. • How to align research goals with funding priorities and relevant funding bodies. • Practical Workshop: Participants begin drafting sections of their own research proposals, with feedback from facilitators.

Navigating Research Ethics Review Processes

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • The steps involved in obtaining ethical approval for your research project. • Best practices for ensuring ethical compliance and dealing with ethical challenges. • Ethical Dilemmas Game: Participants play the ethical dilemmas game and report on lessons learned. See https://www.eur.nl/en/about-university/policy-and-regulations/integrity/research-integrity/dilemma-game

Day 1 Wrap-up and Q&A Room: Conference Room • Recap of the day’s discussions. • Open floor for any questions or final thoughts on research excellence and ethics.

Registration and Morning Networking Room: Conference Room • Welcome and informal networking. • Brief overview of Day 2 objectives and agenda.

Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • The anatomy of a successful grant proposal. • Key sections: Executive summary, needs assessment, objectives, methodology, budget, and sustainability. • Interactive Exercise: Participants will critique a sample proposal and identify strengths and weaknesses.

Identifying the Right Funding Opportunities

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • How to find funding sources that align with your research goals. • Key platforms for discovering grants (e.g., government, foundations, international organizations). • Understanding the different types of grants: seed grants, institutional funding, collaborative funding, and more. • Group Discussion: Participants will share their experiences with finding funding and discuss strategies for identifying the right fit.

Writing a Persuasive Research Grant Proposal Room: Conference Room • Crafting a compelling narrative that connects your research to broader societal needs and priorities. • Writing an engaging budget justification and ensuring cost-effectiveness. • Common pitfalls in grant writing and how to avoid them. • Practical Workshop: Participants will work on drafting an abstract and specific aims section of a proposal, applying the tips learned.

Fundraising Strategies for Research Projects Room: Conference Room • Fundraising basics: How to identify and approach potential donors and funding partners. • Building relationships with private donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors. • Crowdfunding for research: Emerging strategies and platforms for raising funds for research initiatives. • Interactive Group Exercise: Participants will brainstorm fundraising strategies for their projects and develop a pitch for potential donors.

Understanding Grant Compliance and Reporting Requirements

• Fredrick Armah (Association of African Universities)

Room: Conference Room • Monitoring and evaluation: How to track project progress and outcomes. • The importance of compliance with grant terms and conditions, and best practices for maintaining transparency and accountability. • Practical Case Study: A walkthrough of a grants management compliance scenario, where participants will evaluate and propose solutions for addressing challenges. Excel worksheet on roles and responsibilities in post-award phase.

Closing Remarks and Next Steps Room: Conference Room • Recap of key learning points from both workshops. • Opportunities for participants to continue collaborating post-workshop. • Provide resources for ongoing support (e.g., grant writing guides, ethics resources, online communities). • Q&A session and final thoughts from participants.