MIASA Writing Workshop Equips Early Career Researchers to Contribute to Africa’s Research Transformation
Seventeen early career researchers from across Africa have successfully participated in the 2025 edition of the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa’s Writing Workshop held at the University of Ghana, intended to build capacity for scholarly publication, mentorship and ethical research practice.
The annual workshop, now in its fifth year, is part of MIASA's broader commitment to promoting excellence in research and advancing interdisciplinary collaboration on the continent. Participants were selected through a competitive and rigorous process from Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Mali.
Delivering initial remarks at the opening session, Prof. Akosua Darkwah, Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies, who is also a Senior Fellow and co-convenor of Interdisciplinary Fellow Group (IFG) 8 of MIASA, highlighted the significance of the workshop in shaping the next generation of African scholars.
She stated, “This workshop has been carefully designed to support the growth of new scholars and help build sustainable research capacity. It is part of a broader vision to contribute meaningfully to knowledge production from the continent.”
Prof. Darkwah mentioned the importance of supporting African scholars in their pursuit of research excellence and urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity. She acknowledged the persistent challenge of limited access to academic databases, which hinders researchers’ ability to conduct high-quality literature reviews and called for a culture of mutual support among researchers.
In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and the Provost of the College of Humanities, Prof. Grace Diabah, Ghanaian Co-Director of MIASA, praised the Institute’s impact on the research landscape, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.
“MIASA has provided a robust platform for multidisciplinary engagement in governance, sustainability, anthropology, politics and history among other fields,” she noted. “Through its Interdisciplinary Fellow Groups (IFGs), Artists-in-Residence and writing workshops such as this, MIASA continues to create space for mentorship, innovation and critical research development.”
Prof. Diabah encouraged participants to maximise the lessons from the workshop and reflect on their unique research contexts in order to generate knowledge that resonates beyond their national borders.
For Prof. Mamadou Diawara, German Co-Director of MIASA, the writing workshop is an important step in ensuring the visibility of African scholarship on global platforms. He commended participants for making it through the competitive selection process and reminded them of the responsibility to translate their research into quality publications.
“You have earned your place here and it is crucial that you use this experience to develop strong papers and build confidence in your publishing journey,” he said.
Throughout the workshop, participants received tailored mentorship on key aspects of scholarly writing and research publication. Sessions covered topics such as structuring academic articles, selecting appropriate journals, navigating the peer-review process, addressing ethical concerns in research and improving argumentation and clarity.
Participants also engaged in peer review exercises, one-on-one mentoring and group discussions that addressed writing anxieties, career pathways in academia and strategies for developing a sustainable research agenda.
The MIASA Writing Workshop also created a space for transnational collaboration and the exchange of ideas rooted in shared challenges and aspirations by bringing together emerging researchers from diverse African countries.
The Writing Workshop was in line with the University of Ghana’s 2024–2029 Strategic Plan, which prioritises impactful research and global visibility. The success of this year’s workshop reflects the University’s deepening commitment to creating platforms that advance high-quality, Africa-led research with global relevance.
The Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA) is a collaborative initiative between the University of Ghana and German partners including the University of Freiburg, the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and others. The Institute promotes interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences, with a focus on sustainable governance and transformation.
