The Faculty of Media Technology and Liberal Studies, FAMTELS, of Takoradi Technical University has organised a research seminar aimed at enhancing the research capacity of faculty members and elevate the University’s academic profile. This initiative, focused on fostering academic rigor and encouraging collaborative feedback, provided a platform for staff to showcase their on-going research and receive constructive critique from their peers, both within and outside the University.

Additionally, the seminar served as a peer review and motivation for faculty members who are less active in research, encouraging them to engage with their colleagues’ work and develop their own research skills.

Speaking at the seminar, Prof. Ing. Ebenezer Boakye, Director of the Directorate of Quality Assurance and Academic Planning, emphasized the importance of research in both teaching and institutional advancement.

While reemphasising the importance of research, Prof. Ing. Boakye, noted that research is integral to the University’s core mandate.

“We research to teach and we teach to research. Research not only plays a crucial role in promotion but also brings the University into global visibility. Universities are ranked based on publications and research, and for Takoradi Technical University, to achieve this, we must prioritize and strengthen our research capabilities. This seminar is an essential step in that direction, where we can learn from each other, refine our skills, and ultimately publish in respected journals to elevate our University.”, he said

The seminar featured presentations from six distinguished faculty members, each discussing their unique research topics, which spanned a diverse range of subjects. Among the presenters were Dr. Dzidefo Letsa, Miss. Wilhelmina Coker Davis, Mr. Francis Bukari, Mr. Ronald Osei Mensah, Mr. Mark Abbey, and Mr. Victor Washington.

One of the standout presentations was by Miss. Wilhelmina Coker Davis, who explored the topic “Lexical Bundles in Academic Writing: The Case of Students and Faculty in a Ghanaian University.” Using corpus analysis, her research revealed that students tend to use lexical bundles—phrases commonly used in academic writing—more frequently than their lecturers. Her findings highlighted the influence of students’ exposure to external academic sources during their research, setting them apart in their use of these linguistic structures.

Mr. Francis Bukari presented his research on “Exploring Syntactic Complexity and its Relationship with Writing Quality in ESL Argumentative Essays.” His study focused on how sentence complexity correlates with writing quality, revealing that male students tend to write more complex sentences and produce higher-quality writing than their female counterparts.

Dr. Dzidefo Letsa presented on “Meta AI as an Image Generation Tool Among Graphic Design Students for Book Cover Designs: The Ups and Downs.” His research examined how TTU’s graphic design students use Meta AI tools for creating book cover images. The findings indicated that while 62.44% of students embrace the tool, 37.56% remain skeptical, questioning the authenticity and creativity of AI-generated designs.

Mr. Victor Washington’s presentation, titled “Syncretizing Science and Spirituality: Integrating Indigenous Cosmologies with Modern Meteorology to Foster Climate Awareness and Action,” sought to bridge the gap between indigenous knowledge systems and modern scientific approaches. His research explored how indigenous cosmologies, which often predict climate patterns, align with modern meteorological data and how combining these can foster greater climate awareness and action.

Mr. Mark Abbey’s study on “Pragmatic Analysis of World Cup Theme Songs” delved into the use of deixis (context-dependent words) in the lyrics of popular World Cup theme songs. His analysis revealed that spatial deixis (related to location) was the most dominant in the songs, followed by personal and temporal deixis. These findings shed light on how theme songs use language to connect with global audiences and evoke a sense of unity and place.

Lastly, Mr. Ronald Osei Mensah’s presentation on “A Socio-Crime Analysis of Post-Election Violence, Transition Process, and Party Footsoldierism: The Case of the 2024 Elections in Ghana” provided an insightful look into the political and social ramifications of post-election violence. His analysis, informed by political clientelism theory and Robert K. Merton’s theory of deviance, offered a deeper understanding of the political dynamics in Ghana’s electoral processes.

Each presenter received valuable feedback from their colleagues, allowing them to refine their work further and enhance the quality of their research. The seminar concluded with a commitment to  regularly organise it, ensuring that faculty members remain supported in their research endeavors, contributing to the University’s growth and global recognition.