Rev. Dr. Julius Sarwolo S. Nelson, President of the University of Liberia (UL), has announced a Research Grant Fund Platform in the amount of US$50,000 as seed money to cultivate research at the University of Liberia.
Dr. Nelson made the disclosure when the UL honored 31 faculty members for their scholarly publications.
The UL on Wednesday, February 17, certificated 31 of its faculty authors in recognition of their scholarly works. Their publications covered the period from academic years 2018/2019 and 2019/ 2020.
Those honored were Dr. Moses M. Zinnah, Ph.D., Professor and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Josephus M. Gray, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Dean of Liberia College; Associate Professor Eva Mappy Morgan, LLM; Dr. Eugene Shannon, Ph.D; Dr. Lester Z. Tenny, Associate Professor of UL Graduate Studies Program in MBA.
The list also includes Dr. James McClain, Ph.D, Assistant Professor and Dean of Science College; Assistant Professor Thomas Kaydor, M.Sc, (Ph.D candidate) and Academic Coordinator of UL Graduate School; Mamadou L. Bah, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of the IBB Graduate Studies Program and Assistant Professor Johnson J. Geply, Ph.D, among other distinguished professors and instructors.
The 31 faculty members were all recipients of cash and prestigious Certificate of Scholastic Recognition having acquired honor in academic excellence through peer-reviewed publications at their respective colleges, graduate studies and professional schools.
Three of the 31 honorees hold the rank of full professorship while five hold the rank of associate professor and 13 assistant professors, nine are holders of instructor rank.
The list of the distinguished honorees include 15 Ph.D holders, one LLM Degree holder and 15 holders of M.Sc. Degree. The university has more than 800 faculty members, who are full-time and adjunct faculty.
The inaugural recognition ceremony recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of University of Liberia professors and instructors, as part of activities marking the 101st commencement.
During the program on the UL Fendall Campus on Wednesday, President Nelson, pledged that his administration will expand and cultivate the culture of research among UL staff, the students and faculty members.
Prof. Dr. William Ezra Allen, serving as keynote speaker indicated that peer review publications develop a trained core of faculty, helps to give universities a positive image, and provides an equitable standard for academic promotion.
According to him, every upward movement has its material and psychological reward. “When you go to the faculty promotion exercise, the ‘Publish or Perish,’ when you go through that exercise and you are promoted, there are incentives that come with this promotion.”
He noted that these include material incentives and psychological incentives or benefits.
He further said that feeling of self-satisfaction, having gone from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor or to Full Professor, while also benefiting an upgrade in salary or the material benefit.
He added that those who have not published should give it a try and do publication, saying by doing so they will be producing knowledge that is needed by the university and the society at large.
In concluding, Dr. Allen suggested course reduction for professors who are engaged in research and publication to afford them the opportunity to give time to their writing work.
