1. Grounding PhD students at
Makerere University:
The Case for Cross-cutting Courses
George Nasinyama
Assoc Prof and Deputy Director
Directorate of Research & Graduate Training
Presented at SLU – October 17, 2013
2. Content
PhD
programs at Makerere University
Why cross-cutting courses
Outline of Cross-cutting courses
Development and Delivery mode
Conclusion
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
3. Forms of PhD programs
Two
By
basic forms
Thesis i.e. research alone
Most
Common form
Offered by all academic units/disciplines
By
Course work & Dissertation
Year
1 – course work
Years 2-4 for Research and write-up
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
4. The need for Cross-cutting
courses
Prior
to 1999, PhD was by Thesis alone
Initiatives for taught PhD followed Mujjaju
Report (1999):
PhD
qualification required for appointment as
a lecturer at Mak
Increased support by staff development to
train staff to PhD level
PhD degree programs by research alone were
considered inadequate
Value
addition and intellectual discourse
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
5. Developments
Subsequently,
a few pioneer Faculties
developed PhD programs by both
course work and research
Faculty
of Computing and Information
Technology
School of Education
Faculty of Economics and Management
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
6. Currently…
The
following colleges run some PhD
programs by Course work & Dissertation
College
of Education and external Studies
College of Computing and Information Sciences
College of Business and Management Studies
College of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
7. The Challenge
Feedback
from PhD students revealed
courses
offered dealt adequately with the
technical aspects in the various disciplines
Inadequacy in terms of content in basic
courses required for sharpening the
students’ skills in research and publication
Knowledge
areas identified - Research
methodology, Data analysis, Information
Management, Philosophy of Method, and
Scholarly writing and communication
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
8. Birth of cross-cutting courses - 2000
School
of Graduate Studies developed
and coordinated cross-cutting courses
with support from development partners
Sida/SAREC
of Sweden
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Norad of Norway
in collaboration with some units of the
university
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
9. Cross cutting courses offered 2000-2007
Course
August/Sept
2001 Sept-2002
Aug/Sept 2003
July 2003
June 2005
No. of
participants
20
28
14
22
17
Nov/Dec 2001
Nov/Dec 2002
Nov/Dec 2004
Nov/Dec 2006
30
24
25
26
Statistics and Computer
Applications in Research
May 2002
May 2004
July 2007
July 2008
20
20
10
10
Genes and Genomes
Conducted 5
times
2006
2007
2008
100
Philosophy of Method
Collaborating
Institution
Linkoping University,
Norway
Advanced Gender Research Gottenberg University,
Methods
Germany
Quantitative & Qualitative
Research Methodology
Information Competence &
Management
Lund University,
Sweden
Dates
12
32
36
10. Curriculum of CCCs
a) Core Courses
ITS
code
CCC
9101
Course name
LH
PH
TH
CH CU
Advanced Research
Methods
30
40
10
60
4
ART
9102
ART
9105
Philosophy of Method
30
-
15
45
3
Scholarly Writing &
Communication Skills
20
20
15
45
3
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
11. b) Electives
ITS code
Course name
LH PH TH CH CU
LIB 9103
Information Competence &
Management
Advanced gender Research
Methodology
Advanced Quantitative Data
Analysis
Advanced Qualitative Research
Methodology & Data Analysis
Mechanisms & epidemiology of
Cancer with focus on Africa
Clinical Epidemiology
20
20 15
45
3
20
20 15
35
3
30
20 20
60
4
30
20 20
60
4
20
20 15
45
3
20
20 15
45
3
25
20 10
45
3
FVM 7201
Genes and Genomes in the
Tropics
Advanced Epidemiology
30
10 25
60
4
FOM 9110
Biomedical Research Methods
30
60 -
60
4
WGS 9104
ISE 9106
SOC 9107
FOM 2087
FOM 9108
FOM 9109
12. In addition…
Workshops
for academic staff annually:
Scholarly
writing & Communication Skills
Research Management
Includes
grant proposal writing
Supervision
For
staff with PhDs
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
13. Content and Delivery
Identification
of staff in Mak with competence and
expertise in the areas
Interest by PhD students is high
Value of courses rated highly from feedback/
course evaluations
Courses taken for credit and credits are
transferable
Curriculum developed and with senate
DRGT coordinates the running of the courses
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
14. Conclusion
Development
of CCCs arose out of need
to better ground and produce quality
PhD students
Positive evaluation of CCCs by PhD
students
Drive is to have some taught component
in all PhD programs at Mak
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013
15. TAC
[THANK YOU FOR LISTENING]
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013