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Research Ethics, Integrity, Compliances and Responsible Conduct of Research

Home | Research Ethics, Integrity, Compliances and Responsible Conduct of Research

Research Ethics, Integrity, Compliances and Responsible Conduct of Research

A CoP is a group of professionals who share a passion for an activity, and learn how to improve on the performance and delivery of such an activity over time, by sharing knowledge, resources and tools through regular interactions (Wenger, 2011).

Gaps

  • Thousands of grant opportunities are available in all fields and specializations, and to all categories of researchers in HEIs.
  • Opportunities are sparsely harnessed to drive cutting edge R&D in HEIs in Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • There is no entrenched culture of grantsmanship to drive a research and innovation (R&I) agenda for institutional development
  • Phases of project life cycles are poorly coordinated and implemented, further hurting institutional grantsmanship track record and image
  • Where a grantsmanship culture is poor, researchers are not competitive in the global R&D landscape, further hurting individual careers and institutional visibility
  • Detrimental effects also include lowered institutional ranking and status
  • Other implications: loss of millions of dollars of funding for R&I for institutional development.

 

Implications of the “Gaps” and “Strengths”

  1. A new paradigm needed
  2. Build capacity to harness ALL grants and fellowships
  3. Tap on our strengths [Logos]
  4. For each logo, there are reviewers within the Faculty & within OAU
  5. Review services could be deployed to applicants through a CoP, maybe?
  6.  Communality and collegiality
  7. Evolve new systems and mechanisms for grantsmanship and RM [e.g. CoP]

 

The OAU Community of Practice

  • A CoP is characterized by:
    • a domain of interest or focus (e.g. grantsmanship),
    • a community of practitioners (e.g. academics & researchers) and
    • a systematic process of practice of the activity, through knowledge exchange to actualize the agenda of the CoP
  • CoPs have been linked to the grantsmanship agenda of higher education institutions (Poole, 2006)
  • A CoP model promotes grantsmanship by creating a robust platform for collaborations, synergies and networks among researchers within and across institutions.
  • Merits of a CoP for grantsmanship and research management include :
    • experiential learning,
    • inspiring competences and competitiveness in grantsmanship

 

Goals

  • Accumulate and apply knowledge of grantsmanship and RM to build institutional capacity for research and innovation in OAU
  • Establish, operationalize and evaluate a web-enabled CoP for the promotion of grantsmanship and RM in OAU

 

Merits of CoP

  • Experiential learning, synergy and best practices on grantsmanship and RM
  • Mapping knowledge and identifying knowledge gaps on grantsmanship & RM
  • Repertoire of knowledge of diverse funding opportunities, including conventional granting schemes and emerging schemes (e.g. crowdfunding)
    Members share tools, resources, methodologies, etc., on grantsmanship

 

Benefits of a CoP

  • Improvement of the knowledge of each participant in the CoP
  • Development of knowledge within the domain of grantsmanship
  • Inspiring competences and competitiveness among ECRs in harnessing grantsmanship for career development
  • Access to tools and resources (on-line) to drive grantsmanship and RM;
  • Access to the immense funding needed for R&I projects

 

Objectives

  • Develop a web-enabled CoP for sharing knowledge, processes, data, tools and best practices on grantsmanship and RM in OAU
  • Design a governance model for a web-enabled CoP to inspire grantsmanship and RM
  • Identify and address significant knowledge gaps in grantsmanship, project life cycle and RM under a web-enabled CoP;
  • Inspire grantsmanship and RM in the digital and ICT age through access to online resources, tools and networks among ECRs in OAU;
  • Explore intra- and inter-institutional CoP to nurture grantsmanship and RM for institutional development.

 

Methodology

Design & Operationalization of a Web-enabled CoP for Grantsmanship: A two-phase methodology

  • Phase 1: Establishment of the CoP for G/ship infrastructure
  • Phase 2: Operationalization of a web-enabled CoP for a sustainable culture of grantsmanship and RM in OAU

 

Establishment of a CoP Infrastructure

  • Institutional buy-in and ownership
  • Awareness and Needs Assessment Survey [A link to the e-questionnaire is https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_QGF6ERF8wSQekEc_6nFxIrEj4dSdkyBGyRz8I5o_WDotDg/viewform?usp=sf_link
    OR https://forms.gle/tAY3DHVQDsDV81rM6]
  • Establishment of a CoP Resource Unit for grantsmanship and RM at the URO/COR
  • A robust and functional Web-site for a CoP for grantsmanship and RM in OAU

 

Operationalization of a CoP for Grantsmanship

  • Capacity building [and Capacity strengthening] of grantsmanship and RM in OAU via a web-enabled CoP
  • Grantsmanship and Mentorship
  • Risk mitigation
  • Sustainability indicators

 

Thematic Areas/Topics for Capacity Building Via CoP

  • Before Writing a Grant Application, what is a critical knowledge base? [the RDF philosophy]
  • Customized Grantsmanship training
  • Criteria for the Assessment of Grants proposals
  • Grants’ Culture
  • Handling failures/rejections
  • Grantsmanship and Mentorship for ECRs
  • Compliance, RCR, Research Ethics and Integrity
  • Research Life Cycle
  • Project Cycle Management
  • Lunch-and-Learn series

 

Web-enablement of the CoP

  • A CoP for grantsmanship harnesses web resources
    • Project life cycle
      • Opportunity scanning for grants and fellowships
      • Guided application process [www.hannoverresearch.com]
      • Pre-award [Granting agency portal]
      • Post-award
      • Project cycle management
      • Project Close-out
    • Global networks and collaborations on grantsmanship

 

  • OAU CoP Web Design and Hosting
    • All forms, institutional fact sheets and templates
    • Institutional Data and Metrics
    • Links to the web-sites (and information systems) of granting agencies and foundations
    • Online resources on grantsmanship [e.g. HannoverResearch.com]
    • Shut-up and Write Philosophy
    • Application submission Portals [UKRI, EU, Wellcome Trust, TETFund, etc]

 

Likely outcomes

  1. A web-enabled CoP (plus a CoP Resource Unit) for grantsmanship and RM established and operational in OAU
  2. Capacity building for grantsmanship enhanced through a web-enabled CoP
  3. Expanded networks of practitioners of grantsmanship facilitated by a web-enabled CoP
  4. Intra- and inter-institutional linkages and partnerships for grantsmanship and research collaborations are enhanced through a CoP
  5. Early career researchers mentored and inspired with knowledge, skills and competences in grantsmanship through a web-enabled CoP;
  6. Enhanced reputation and capacity of OAU researchers in securing and managing grants and project life cycles facilitated by a CoP
  7. A framework for mentorship in grantsmanship for ECRs through a web-enabled CoP

 

Sustainability of the CoP for Grantsmanship

  • Institutional buy-in [Institutional commitment and project ownership by OAU]
  • Maintain global networks and linkages [e.g. IREX, etc]
  • Project Alumni network of ECR beneficiaries – continuation of project activities by a highly inspired generation of beneficiaries and practitioners of grantsmanship and RM
  • Competitive grants (similar to the current UASP/IREX Call for Proposals) to expand on the current efforts
  • Expanded CoP networks

 

Reflections / Conclusion

  • Grantsmanship remains a veritable source of “all round” funding for R&D
  • Grantsmanship opportunities are sparsely tapped or harnessed [See next plate]
  • A new paradigm of grantsmanship is needed
  • In the light of the ICT age, we proposed “a web-enabled CoP for grantsmanship and research management in OAU”
  • Presentation of the CoP for Grantsmanship appears simplistic
    • Still need to navigate logistical issues
      • Governance structure
      • Trust and confidentiality
      • Web design that is robust and functional
      • Communality and collegiality
  • Irrespective of all these, the CoP for grantsmanship is a game-changer for OAU

 

 

A community of OAU academics, researchers and professionals with a passion to leverage on grantsmanship to promote scholarship.

References and Resources

Licklider M M (2012). Grant Seeking in Higher Education. Strategies and Tools for College Faculty. The University of Missouri Grant Writer Network. Jossey-Bass Publishers. 312pp
Grantcraft @ www.grantcraft.org
PAEPARD @ http://paepard.blogspot.com/
RDF @ : https://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers-professional-development/about-the-vitae-researcher-development-framework/rdf-images
Grantcraft @www.grantcraft.org
IFS @ www.ifs.se

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CoP for grantsmanship and research management?
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