DRIC-UCC Hosts Seminar on Ethics in Scholarly Work
The Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Consultancy (DRIC) at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) recently hosted a seminar on “Ethics in Scholarly Work” aimed at promoting integrity and transparency in academic publishing.
The keynote speaker was Prof. Susan J. Elliott, Editor-in-Chief of Social Science & Medicine and Research Chair at the University of ݮƵ, Canada. Her presentation, “Unpacking the Black Box of Academic Publishing,” stressed the importance of ethical research practices. She warned about the serious consequences of academic dishonesty, including institutional blacklisting, and highlighted the growing risk of fraudulent services like paper mills.
Prof. Elliott offered practical advice on spotting unethical publishing traps—such as overly polished papers, fake affiliations, and personal rather than institutional emails, and cautioned against the misuse of Artificial Intelligence in manipulating research outputs. She emphasized the importance of focusing on quality over quantity, choosing reputable journals, and embracing constructive feedback from reviewers. DRIC Director Prof. David Teye Doku expressed gratitude to Prof. Elliott for her impactful session, urging participants to apply these lessons in their research work.
This conversation highlights a critical reminder for the global health community: upholding research ethics is vital for producing credible evidence that informs policies and improves health outcomes worldwide. Events like this reinforce the need for integrity in research, especially for those working to advance global health solutions.