Roles of researchers in guiding early career scholars in innovation, academic writing

In its ongoing effort to build global research capacity and elevate academic standards, the Global Association for Research and Innovation (GARI) hosted an international webinar on June 27, 2025, titled ‘How to Review Academic Manuscripts: A Practical Guide for Early Career Scholars’. The event featured Dr. Felice Coles, a Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Mississippi, and drew more than 300 participants from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. The session was streamed live via Zoom, LinkedIn, and YouTube, expanding GARI’s reach and reaffirming its role as a distinguished platform for global scholarly engagement.

The Global Association for Research and Innovation (GARI) is a multidisciplinary academic institution dedicated to fostering research excellence, scholarly mentorship, and international collaboration across all major fields of study. With its expanding global footprint, GARI serves as a central hub for researchers, professionals, and academic institutions seeking to engage in impactful knowledge production and innovation.

At the heart of GARI’s activities is CogNexus, its peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal that publishes high-quality scholarship from contributors across the humanities, sciences, technology, policy, and global development. The journal is indexed in major academic databases and is supported by an international editorial board composed of scholars with demonstrated leadership in their disciplines.

GARI’s initiatives also include the International Research and Innovation Fellowship Programme, through which emerging and established researchers are selected based on peer-reviewed contributions, leadership potential, and commitment to collaborative inquiry. Fellows actively engage in mentoring, manuscript reviewing, conference organisation, and cross-border academic partnerships, contributing to GARI’s mission of building scholarly capacity on a global scale.

The organisation is led by a distinguished leadership team, including President Dr. Braimoh, and Vice President for Research and Scholarly Engagement Mr. Dare Ehigie, whose strategic direction has shaped GARI’s identity as a respected voice in academic discourse and international cooperation. Together with a network of advisors, fellows, and institutional partners, GARI supports an ecosystem of innovation that reaches scholars in over 20 countries and across diverse disciplines.

From hosting international conferences and judging panels to organising hackathons, webinars, and special research clusters, GARI demonstrates the key attributes of a distinguished organisation: recognised leadership, global engagement, original scholarly programming, and a demonstrable impact on the academic community.

The June 2025 webinar on ‘How to Review Academic Manuscripts: A Practical Guide for Early Career Scholars’ marked the latest instalment in GARI’s Scholarly Engagement Series, an ambitious initiative aimed at equipping researchers with the professional competencies necessary to thrive in today’s academic landscape.

Spearheaded by Mr. Dare Ehigie, GARI’s Vice President for Research and Scholarly Engagement, the series was developed in response to a growing recognition that critical skills such as manuscript reviewing, research ethics, and scholarly communication are often under-emphasised in formal academic training. By directly addressing these gaps, GARI not only mentors early-career scholars but also strengthens the integrity and quality of global academic publishing.

This session, delivered by linguistics expert Dr. Felice Coles, focused on the ethical, technical, and strategic dimensions of peer review. It served both as a learning opportunity and a platform for dialogue among a cross-continental audience, reinforcing GARI’s mission to foster inclusive, high-quality academic participation across geographic and disciplinary boundaries.

More than just a one-time event, the webinar reflects GARI’s long-term investment in capacity-building through sustained programming, institutional partnerships, and the cultivation of research excellence on a global scale.

“We see peer review not merely as a gatekeeping mechanism, but as a form of scholarly stewardship that ensures academic integrity and advances disciplinary knowledge,” said Mr. Dare Ehigie, Vice President for Research and Scholarly Engagement at GARI. “By equipping emerging researchers with the tools to conduct meaningful, ethical reviews, we are investing in the long-term health of global scholarship.”

“This webinar reflects GARI’s broader vision—to build research capacity across continents and democratize access to academic mentorship and training,” added Dr. Braimoh, President of GARI. “We are proud to create platforms where researchers from all backgrounds can contribute, collaborate, and grow.”

These perspectives reflect GARI’s commitment not just to convening academic events, but to shaping the next generation of thought leaders through deliberate, inclusive programming.

With a growing network of members and fellows spanning over 25 countries, the Global Association for Research and Innovation (GARI) has established itself as a globally engaged academic platform. Its programming actively connects scholars from institutions across Africa, North America, Asia, and Europe, fostering cross-disciplinary exchange and mentorship at scale.

GARI’s flagship initiatives include CogNexus, its peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal, indexed in major directories and supported by a diverse international editorial board; international webinars and panel discussions featuring faculty from renowned institutions such as the University of Mississippi, Georgia State University, University of Kufa, Iraq, University of Pennsylvania, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE, Higher Education Accreditation and Research Promotion (HEARP), Federal University of Technology Owerri, and other global partners; fellowship and judging opportunities, which allow GARI Fellows to serve on evaluation panels, conference committees, and editorial boards — evidence of their critical roles in a distinguished organization; and research mentorship and publication programmes that culminate in scholarly outputs co-authored by mentors and early-career researchers.

GARI’s platforms have reached hundreds of participants per event, with high engagement rates and active followership on LinkedIn, YouTube, and partner university networks. Its members regularly publish in academic outlets, present at global conferences, and lead training sessions that strengthen research capacity in underrepresented regions.

As part of its continued commitment to scholarly excellence, GARI’s 2025 programming includes a virtual conference on AI and ethics in research; hackathons and innovation challenges in STEM fields; manuscript review training, panel judging, and peer review workshops; and open calls for CogNexus journal submissions and editorial contributions. Researchers, educators, and academic leaders interested in joining a distinguished, globally connected academic network are encouraged to explore membership, fellowships, and collaborative opportunities with GARI.

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