1 / 26

MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH BY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH BY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS. Prof. Eunice Mutitu Director, BPS Presented at the Research Development and Advisory Board (RDAB) Retreat: 16 th – 18 th August 2013 – Maanzoni Lodge. Definition. What is research?

fuller-head
Download Presentation

MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH BY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH BY POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS Prof. Eunice Mutitu Director, BPS Presented at the Research Development and Advisory Board (RDAB) Retreat: 16th – 18th August 2013 – Maanzoni Lodge University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 1 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  2. Definition What is research? A systematic process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data in order to express our understanding of a phenomenon under investigation University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 2 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  3. Types of Research at University of Nairobi Done by thesis Done by Research Project Dissertation University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 3 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  4. Research Disciplines at University of Nairobi Humanities and Social Sciences Biological and Physical Sciences Engineering Sciences Health Sciences University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 4 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  5. Thesis Takes an equivalent of 8 course units - one unit is normally 45 hrs Mostly by CAVS, CBPS, CAE University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 5 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  6. Research project Takes an equivalent of 4 course units Mostly by CHSS and CEES University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 6 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  7. Dissertation Usually synonymous with thesis Mainly used by CHS research Duration varies depending with the area of specialization Some like in School of Public Health and UNITID are similar to Research Projects University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 7 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  8. Management of Research Starts with Proposal writing Proposals must be presented and critiqued at Department level University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 8 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  9. Proposal writing Normally, it has the following; Introduction Problem statement Research objectives; general and specific Hypothesis Justification for the research Literature review University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 9 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  10. Cont’d Methodology – includes research design, data collection and data analysis References Work plan Budget Appendices University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 10 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  11. Proposal Implementation University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 11 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke Students allocated supervisors Actual research carried out Use of ‘Research Notebooks’ required during research phase

  12. Supervision University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 12 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke Students allocated supervisors – normally between 1 and 3 Students are expected to consult with their supervisors once a month Students are expected to write a report to the Dean and copy to BPS once a semester (quarterly) Students are expected to participate in Departmental Seminars

  13. Unsatisfactory Performance When a student fails to consult Where a student fails to write quarterly reports Given a written warning by the Dean, Copy to the Director, BPS Given 3 months to show improvement University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 13 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  14. Submission & Examination of thesis & project reports For thesis, notice for submission is given 3 months before accompanied by an abstract; A Board of Examiners’ is constituted to BPS by the Dean/Director for approval; Once submitted, BPS dispatches the copies to External Examiners’ and two Internal Examiners’ and they are given two months to submit their reports. University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 14 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  15. Cont... Once all reports are in, BPS informs respective Deans/Directors and requests that the oral examination be scheduled in two weeks. BPS prepares the examination reports and sends them to the members of the Examination Board within two weeks. BPS informs also the candidate about the date given for examination. Once the student defends, a consolidated report is sent to BPS for approval. University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 15 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  16. Cont. BPS writes to the member appointed to oversee corrections, who then writes a Certificate of Correction. After the student is cleared, BPS sends the student’s file with all the information to the Vice-Chancellor for approval in order for the student to graduate. Once approved, BPS prepares and sends the Letter of Award to the candidate with copies to all the relevant units. University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 16 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  17. Deregistration Where a student makes no tangible improvement after the warnings Recommendation for deregistration given after 2 negative reports Recommendation to deregister made to Senate through Director, BPS University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 17 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  18. Challenges Students not finishing at stipulated time Students not writing the quarterly progress reports Students not consulting with their supervisors monthly Not enough information in students files due to above challenges University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 18 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  19. Analysis of causes of non-completion of students A random analysis of 322 student responses on why they had not completed analyzed (see table) The majority – 86% was due to personal reasons University specific reasons were only 3% University and other reasons were 11% University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 19 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  20. University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 20 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  21. Personal reasons Heavy workload Job transfer from Nairobi Financial Family issues including sickness, bereavement and domestic University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 21 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  22. University problems Missing marks Late results Holding of results Delay in allocation of supervisor Change of supervisor University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 22 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  23. Cont’d Unavailability of supervisors Supervisors outside UON Confusion whether student is in regular or other modules Interfaculty transfers Enrolment challenges University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 23 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  24. Address of Challenges BPS developed an expanded template for information capture and tracking students Deans/Directors requested to follow their students on progress reports and monthly consultations Students requested to show cause why they should not be deregistered after expiry of their study period Development of the BPS Strategic Plan 2013-2018 University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 24 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  25. BPS Strategic Plan Participation in the development of the Strategic Plan was all inclusive – UMB and Deans and Directors It captures all areas that need addressing The matrix expands on the details and those responsible Clear that a new structure is needed for BPS to capture the various operations Focus is now on how best this can be done – Please give us your ideas University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 25 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

  26. Thank you for listening University of Nairobi ISO 9001:2008 26 Certified http://www.uonbi.ac.ke

More Related