Evidence of efficiency in PhD Training for an institution of higher learning is given by its high enrollment, short completion time and high number of publications from completed thesis. These result in more effective undergraduate training, higher institutional reputation and higher ability to solve societal problems leading to enhanced national development.
Recognizing that their universities needed to increase this efficiency, the University of Nairobi (Kenya), Makerere University (Uganda) and Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania) in partnership with the Faculty of Life sciences, University of Copenhagen (Denmark) embarked on low cost targeted interventions that revolutionized the approach to PhD training in the region. It was code named The PREPARE-PhD Project
To address inadequate preparedness of students for PhD studies, the partners developed six cross cutting courses that enhanced PhD students’ research and writing skills. These courses, initially voluntary, are in process of being institutionalized. To build peer support, each partner is in the process of forming a PhD student association that will be regionally networked. The network will in addition facilitate information exchange through electronic Bulletins.
Training of Trainers of supervisors (TOTOS) placed teams of trainers in supervision in each partner institution. The teams have trained 245 academics in PhD supervision to date. Aiming to ensure that all academic staff are trained, the partner institutions plan to institutionalize the training such that 60 supervisors will be trained each year.
Each partner updated PhD training rules and regulations, regionally harmonized, and issued guidelines in printed and electronic form to students and supervisors. The exercise enabled clearer understanding of performance expected from students, supervisors and administrators. Administering the programmes better as a way of ensuring what should be done is done. It also developed instruments for smoothening administration of Ph.D. programmes. These instruments were supervisors-student contracts, PhD study plans; manual and online tracking systems and progress report forms.
The outputs of the project have been disseminated to ten other universities in the region. These universities expect to benefit from the partner experiences as they address PhD training efficiency in their institutions.
For more information download the project presentation.
Article prepared by Prof. Raphael G. Wahome
