Overview
The Eastern Africa (EA) PhD Hub is a strategic partnership between NTU and six Eastern Africa universities in Uganda, Malawi, and Kenya. It aims to strengthen the quality of doctoral supervision through partnership, knowledge exchange through sharing good practice across the regions, and development of a strong mentorship programme. The Vice Chancellors and Deputy Vice Chancellors from partner universities signed a Collaborative Memorandum of Understanding in Nairobi in October 2022 and the Hub issued the Limuru Eastern Africa PhD Hub Statement of Intent.
Institutions and countries
Makerere University, Uganda; University of Malawi, Malawi; Kenyatta University, Kenya; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya; Mount Kenya University, Kenya; Rongo University, Kenya; Nottingham Trent University, UK.
Limuru Eastern Africa PhD Hub Statement of Intent
The aim of the Eastern Africa (EA) PhD Hub is to strengthen doctoral supervision across the Eastern Africa partner Universities as listed below. In Africa, timely doctoral completion rates are variable due to a range of barriers. We believe that by focusing on strengthening the doctoral supervision process within our higher education institutions and sharing good practices, completion rates for students will improve. By strengthening doctoral supervisory training, PhD programmes will build capacity to support more candidates emerging with a PhD. This is an opportunity for an EA PhD Hub to broaden the pool of doctoral students and supervisors, build international partnerships, and develop research capacity. The initiative was coordinated and supported by Nottingham Trent University in the UK as a result of their existing research and practice in the region. The partners of the EA PhD hub have worked together over a number of years (2017-2022) to establish aims and objectives and terms of reference both in face-to-face and online workshops.
On the dates of 27th-28th October 2022, the EA PhD Hub partners including Vice Chancellors and their representatives met at Brackenhurst, Limuru, Kenya and these are the key outcomes from the deliberations in a two-day workshop:
Signing of a collaborative MoU by the VCs of all the partner universities.
Design of a mentorship programme: a model was drafted for appropriate PhD supervision for the EA PhD Hub which looks at incentives, roles, tools, and mediation; review of existing institutional documents at partner universities relating to doctoral supervision, for example, handbooks/guidelines/policies/milestones; sharing examples of good practice such as doctoral supervision training sessions.
Drafting a research strategy which will: support capacity building of doctoral supervisors; and develop PhD concept propositions for internal and external funding opportunities.
Strategic planning for EA PhD Hub activities will include: exploring funding opportunities as a priority to support Hub activities e.g. grants/scholarships/projects; carrying out training needs assessment and supervisor tools; establishment of work teams and responsibilities; and exploring mobility of students/staff between the EA PhD Hub institutions.
The partners are all committed to moving this agenda forward. List of partner Universities:
- Nottingham Trent University, UK
- Makerere University, Uganda
- University of Malawi, Malawi
- Kenyatta University, Kenya
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
- Mount Kenya University, Kenya
- Rongo University, Kenya
Date: 27th October 2022
Methodological and partnership approaches
The EA PhD Hub uses an approach that will involve the exchange and sharing of best practices among doctoral supervisors from partner universities, the development of a training model to build a critical mass of skilled supervisors, and the establishment of benchmarks for doctoral supervision to ensure consistency and quality across partner universities. To support PhD students in their academic journey, the partnership also includes the development of a training pedagogy focused on the development of supervision and research skills, publications, and grant applications. A pool of senior academic mentors supports the Hub and offers support to both supervisors and PhD students. Furthermore, a forum for best practices and peer support will be created, where PhD students can exchange ideas and share their experiences, and supervisors can also share best practices for supervision. This approach is guided by a commitment to quality and is regularly reviewed and refined to ensure the continued growth and success of the Eastern Africa PhD Hub.
Partners
Rongo Uni
- Dr Elisha Omoso - Lecturer in Professional Development - Curriculum and Instructional Design - and Integrating Technology in Teaching
- Dr Charles Kesero Tunai.- Senior Lecturer, Literature
Mount Kenya University
- Dr John Kariuki - Senior Lecturer, Public Health
- Dr Samuel Karenga - PHD Director Graduate Studies
JKUAT
- Dr Jackline Nyaberi - Public Health Lecturer
- Prof Justus Onguso - Associate Professor, Plant Biotechnology
Kenyatta Uni
- Prof Margaret Keraka - Dean of Public Health
- Dr George Otieno - Senior Lecturer, Public Health
Makerere University
- Dr Arthur Bagonza - Research Associate, Public Health
- Dr David Musoke - Senior Lecturer, Public Health
Uni of Malawi
- Dr Emmanuel Ngwira - Ass Prof: Dean of School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Dr Felix Kakowa - Head of Sociology
Nottingham Trent University
- Prof Linda Gibson - School of Social Sciences
- Dr Jonathan Gorry - Interim Head of Department, Social and Political Sciences
- Professor Matt Henn - Chair of Social Research
- Dr Simon Cauvain – Head of Department, Social Work, Care and Community, Social Workers in Malawi (SWIM)
- Prof Pam Alldred - Children, Youth and Community, in Dept. of Social Work, Care and Community
- Prof Lucy Betts - Post Graduate Research Tutor, Social Sciences and Professor of Psychology
- Dr Sherran Clarence - Doctoral Training Manager