The Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC) has hosted a round-table workshop on “Successful Publication” to address common challenges and obstacles in publishing research works on August 29, 2024.
The workshop aimed to empower participants with a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively gain a competitive edge in writing and submitting high-quality research papers for publication and ultimately enhancing their academic profile and career prospects.

Speaking at the workshop, the Director of DRIC, Prof. George Kofi Amoako, extended his heartfelt gratitude to the participants for attending the workshop. He noted that publishing research is crucial for career advancement, knowledge sharing, and impacting society in today’s competitive academic landscape.  Prof. Amoako said navigating the publication process can be challenging, especially for early-career researchers. He elaborated that the workshop facilitates knowledge sharing and experience exchange among participants.

An Associate Prof. at the Birmingham Business School, U.K, and resource person, Prof. Samuel Adomako, gave a presentation on “How to Deconstruct the Craft of Writing a Journal Article.” He emphasized that many research papers face rejection not due to flawed research, but because they miss fundamental elements.

Prof. Adomako highlighted five rules/guidance on writing research papers, namely, contributing to literature by theorizing from another literature, being a barn builder, not a barn destroyer (respecting prior studies by acknowledging the value of previous research), in the literature review,  not being “listy” and tell your story (do not list what others have done), select a theory and write your theoretical contribution.

Prof. Adomako delved into the “critical issues for targeting 3 and 4 star journals,” including,  introduction to the paper, the theoretical framework and hypothesis development section, the methods section, analysis and results section and discussion section.

The Director, Directorate of Quality Assurance and Head of Mathematics & Statistics, Prof. Wahab Abdul Iddrisu discussed “Publication Quality.” He indicated that journal quality refers to a publication’s scholarly rigor and reputation.  Prof. Iddrisu elaborated that the “publish or perish” culture can create pressure for one to publish, especially when promotion is on the line.

According to him, to navigate this challenge, it is essential to strike a balance between quality and quantity by focusing on publishing in a reputable and recognized journal. “By building a strong track record of research and publications, possibly raises ones professional profile,” he said.

Giving his remarks, the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, Prof. Ebenezer Malcalm, stressed the importance of collaboration among fellow lecturers, highlighting that working together is crucial to boost publication output and drive academic excellence.

He noted that by embracing active collaboration, researchers can increase their publication output, quality and impact, ultimately advancing knowledge and their academic careers. “In research collaboration, share tasks according to individuals’ strengths and areas of expertise. Learn from each other and grow. This approach fosters a culture of open communication, constructive feedback and mutual respect, leading to more effective and productive research collaborations,” he emphasized.

The workshop participants comprised lecturers/researchers from GCTU, as well as other public universities.