Sanche | Assessing the Scholarly Communication Knowledge of Faculty Members in Tamale, Dr. Hilla Limann, and Bolga Technical Universities in Ghana | Journal of Librarianship and Scholarly Communication

Abstract:  Introduction: Scholarly communication is essential to academic research, enabling the creation, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge. However, faculty engagement with scholarly communication practices in Ghana’s technical universities remains underexplored, especially in institutions with lower research visibility. This study investigates the scholarly communication knowledge and practices of faculty members at Tamale Technical University (TaTU), Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU), and Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU).

Methods: Guided by the positivist paradigm and using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 212 faculty members using proportionate sampling.

Results: The findings reveal significant institutional differences in faculty familiarity with scholarly journals, copyright and licensing issues, and research data management. DHLTU faculty demonstrated stronger engagement with scholarly publishing, while TaTU faculty showed greater awareness of licensing practices. However, a general lack of deep understanding of research impact metrics and emerging scholarly communication technologies was observed across all three institutions.

Discussion & Conclusion: The study underscores the critical role of academic libraries in shaping scholarly communication literacy through training, infrastructure, and policy support. By addressing these gaps, technical universities in Ghana can enhance faculty research output, visibility, and contribution to the global academic community.