The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has successfully conducted a three-day capacity building training for Tertiary and Higher Education Intuitions on Research Management. The training was supported by UNESCO NATCOM and was conducted by West Africa Research and Innovation Association (WARIMA).
The three-day capacity building training was held from the 7th to the 9th of July, 2025 at the Ministry’s Conference Hall in Kanifing.
The purpose of the training was to ensure research activities in the Higher Education sector are efficiently managed, impactful and aligned with national priorities. As well as strengthen the management and cooperation of research activities within the Tertiary and Higher Education institutions that are in line with the current best practices.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, the Director of Research, James Gomez, congratulated the participants and highlighted that this training is organized to build their capacity to provide strategic and operational support to ensure research activities in the higher education institutions are efficiently managed, impactful, and aligned with national priorities.
He noted that as Research Managers, they are now positioned to be catalysts of change in their various institutions.
He said that like the National Qualifications Framework that promotes structured progression and accountability in learning, research activities at all levels must now be guided by a clear pathway to impact.
He noted that Researchers across their tertiary and higher education institutions must be encouraged to embed impact considerations into the very fabric of their research, from conceptualization to implementation.
“Our institutions must foster a culture of translational research; research that does not sit on shelves but speaks to our social, economic, and developmental needs,” he said.
“Research Managers must help ensure that science is not only credible but also accessible to the public, specially in areas like clinical trials, we must never lose sight of the uncertainties and risks involved, and we must communicate these openly and responsibly,” he challenged.
Dembo Kanteh, President of West Africa Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) revealed that research is a collaborative enterprise, and sought the need to have a system put in place in institutions that would enable them to implement grant into what is called compliance.
Omar Jallow, a representative of UNESCO-NATCOM revealed that UNESCO is happy to work on highly impactful project on environment, culture, and on communicating knowledge into communities.
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