management of research by postgraduate students

MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH BY

POSTGRADUATE STUDENTSProf. Eunice Mutitu

Director, BPSPresented 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

What is research?

A systematic process of collecting, analyzing and interpreting data in order to express our understanding of a phenomenon under investigation

Definition


Done by thesis

Done by Research Project

Dissertation

Types of Research at University of Nairobi


Humanities and Social Sciences

Biological and Physical Sciences

Engineering Sciences

Health Sciences

Research Disciplines at University of Nairobi


Takes an equivalent of 8 course units - one unit is normally 45 hrs

Mostly by CAVS, CBPS, CAE

Thesis


Takes an equivalent of 4 course units

Mostly by CHSS and CEES

Research project


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

Dissertation


Starts with Proposal writing

Proposals must be presented and critiqued at Department level

Management of Research


Normally, it has the following;

Introduction

Problem statement

Research objectives; general and specific

Hypothesis

Justification for the research

Literature review

Proposal writing


Methodology – includes research design, data collection and data analysis

References

Work plan

Budget

Appendices

Cont’d


Students allocated supervisors

Actual research carried out

Use of ‘Research Notebooks’ required during research phase


Proposal Implementation

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


Supervision

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

Unsatisfactory Performance


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.

Submission & Examination of thesis &

project reports


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.

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.

Cont.


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

Deregistration


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

Challenges


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%

Analysis of causes of non-completion of students


Analysis table for 322 students for non - completion

Reasons Number Percentage (%)

Personal problems 276 86

University specific 10 3

University and Other reasons

36 11

Total 322 100


Heavy workload

Job transfer from Nairobi

Financial

Family issues including sickness, bereavement and domestic

Personal reasons


Missing marks

Late results

Holding of results

Delay in allocation of supervisor

Change of supervisor

University problems


Unavailability of supervisors

Supervisors outside UON

Confusion whether student is in regular or other modules

Interfaculty transfers

Enrolment challenges

Cont’d


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

Address of Challenges


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

BPS Strategic Plan


Thank you for listening


management of research by postgraduate students

Documents

certified http

research design

research development

supervisorsactual research

outuse of research notebooks

data collection

interpreting data

course unitsmostly