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Call For Applications: PhD Thesis Completion Grants

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2 years ago

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Front Row: DVCAA-Prof. Umar Kakumba (4th L), Director DRGT-Prof. Edward Bbaale (4th R), Academic Registrar-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (2nd R) and Prof. Julius Kikooma (R) with Early-Career fellows and participants at the SECA Project Final Dissemination Workshop on 12th January 2022, Makerere University.
Front Row: DVCAA-Prof. Umar Kakumba (4th L), Director DRGT-Prof. Edward Bbaale (4th R), Academic Registrar-Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (2nd R) and Prof. Julius Kikooma (R) with Early-Career fellows and participants at the SECA Project Final Dissemination Workshop on 12th January 2022, Makerere University.

Programme Summary

From the University’s annual budget allocation FY 2022/23, the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) supports the doctoral candidates on the verge of finalizing their thesis/dissertation, who have no other source of funding for the requested period.

The Completion Grant programme is intended to help candidates make significant progress towards the completion of their thesis/dissertation and/or substantial improvement in the quality of their dissertation. The programme is designed to enable candidates to focus full time on the writing of their theses, improving the quality of the dissertation and shortening the time required to complete the doctoral degree. In effect, the grant is intended to decrease time to degree. Applications from the suitable PhD candidates are welcome.

Eligibility

  • This grant is for students in any field of study who have no other sources for funding in the requested period.
  • The grant is available to PhD candidates employed by Makerere University
  • To be eligible for a grant, applicants must have been cleared to undertake field work for their thesis.
  • The applicant should not hold another outside employment during the grant award period.
  • Grant recipients should not simultaneously hold another Scholarship/Fellowship or be engaged in another research grant
  • The PhD has to be close to finalization. For those who have extended their studentship, detailed reasons have to be given, why the dissertation was not finished within the programme duration period.
  • Qualified Female applicants are strongly encouraged to apply (at least 30% of the Grant will be awarded to female applicants)

Application Requirements and Process

Each candidate may be recommended for this grant only once. Applicants are advised to submit the following documents:

  1. An up-to-date resume/CV of the applicant including information about previous academic
    achievements (e.g. Talks at Graduate Seminar Series, publications from the PhD work, awards
    or participation in national & International conferences)
  2. Evidence of Full Admission and Registration to a PhD programme at Makerere University
  3. Evidence of Full-time/Contractual employment at Makerere University; provide a copy of the
    Appointment Letter issued by the Appointments Board of Makerere University
  4. A copy of the approved proposal submitted for full admission
  5. A realistic activity –based budget and corresponding deliverables
  6. Detailed work and time schedule for the remaining time until thesis completion (in tabular
    form) (if appropriate: date of Public defence/Viva Voce)
  7. Statement from the supervisor, including information on the need and the priority of the
    Completion Grant. It also should in a realistic manner, provide information when the
    Thesis/Dissertation will be finished and give an evaluation of how the PhD project would
    benefit from this Grant.
  8. A letter of support from the Head of Department, which indicates that the Department will
    assist the candidate in reserving sufficient time for the remaining research activities.

Other Conditions of the Grant:

The candidate’s Supervisor(s) and Doctoral Committee members are encouraged to participate fully support the candidate to expedite the programme activities.

As grantees, the students must agree to:

  • Attend support group meetings and writing workshops with other programme recipients;
  • Meet regularly with a designated Thesis/Dissertation Supervisor or writing coach;
  • Dedicate the grant period to finishing their Thesis/Dissertations.
  • The Candidates’ progress towards completion of the Thesis/Dissertation, as well as attendance at Progress Monitoring meetings, will be continually evaluated by the DRGT.

Awards:

A total of 10 grants will be awarded to Fully Admitted and Registered students for academic year, 2022/2023.

The total budget support will depend on the strength of the application but in any case not exceeding Shillings Ten million (UGx. 10,000,000/=) during their grant period, which will be disbursed upon submission of a realistic activity-based budget.

Application Procedure

  1. Electronic submission of application with supporting documents saved under one file using
    the following format: lastname_PhDgrant2023.doc
  2. Submit to the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, Makerere University; Email: conference.rgt@mak.ac.ug
  3. One (1) Hard copy should be addressed to:
    The Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training,
    Senate Building Level 4, Room 410, Makerere University; P.O.BOX 7062, Kampala.
  4. Application Deadline: FRIDAY March 31st 2023; 5:00 PM East African Time

Applications submitted to any other Email address other than the one above will not be accepted.

Application Inquiries

For further information, please contact the Director’s office at: director.rgt@mak.ac.ug

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Education

Mapping Research in Education: A Baseline Study on PhD Completion and Emerging Research Themes

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4 hours ago

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January 30, 2025

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The Deputy Principal CEES, Prof. Ronald Bisaso presents canidadates for the conferment of degrees during the Second Session of Makerere University's 72nd Graduation Ceremony on 24th May 2022.

This report on mapping research in education intends to ignite debate on completion of doctoral studies to improve on doctoral throughput, and reflect on emerging research themes in order to strengthen and increase on evidence-based research from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) that can address a myriad of education related challenges in Uganda and beyond. The College of Education and External Studies (CEES) is one of the ten (10) constituent colleges of Makerere University. Makerere University aspires to be research-led in the current strategic period, 2020-2030 and as CEES journeys ‘Towards a Research-led College’, it is prudent to take stock of research capacity by analyzing PhD graduates of the period 2012-2024 and continuing PhD students admitted by 2022/2023 as well as the emerging research themes in CEES.

First, the total number of PhD completers was 121 in the period 2012-2024 out of whom only six (6) completed in less than 5 years, which is only 5 percent. This is a worrying statistic since at Makerere University, an institutional average of 41% of registered PhD students is reported to complete within four (4) years. Apparently, majority of the completers in CEES complete in 5-9 years represented by 86 PhD graduates. In the same way, among the continuing PhD students, only 59 out of 194 PhD students have spent 3-4 years on the programme perhaps because their year of admission is relatively recent. Second, the research themes that the doctoral research focuses on were explored. Nineteen (19) out of 121 PhD graduates had researched on human resource management, eleven (11) focused on technology in education, eleven (11) on pedagogy/teaching and learning, and only five (5) on inclusive education among others. In the continuing student cohort, there is a surge in students researching on pedagogy /teaching and learning (24), technology in education (20), inclusive education (16), and emergence of a research theme on STEM Education/TVET (17) out of 194 continuing PhD students.

To compound the research themes at CEES, PhD student and academic staff research funded by the Government of Uganda through Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (MakRIF) focused on quite similiar themes. Finally, areas of research that have been dominant across specialities in CEES in the last and next 5-10 years were highlighted by 28 academic staff at different ranks who responded to a survey. Overall, this report presents us with an opportunity to further reflect on the CEES Research Agenda, how to tap and maximize the potential of expertise in CEES, how to harness the diverse PhD research in education and research by academic staff in order to strongly generate impactful research and innovations, and contribute to policy and practice through policy briefs, knowledge briefs, and guidelines for uptake in education and the education system.

Ronald Bisaso, PhD. FUNAS.
Associate Professor of Higher Education and Deputy Principal, CEES.

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Research

Call for Applications: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Course

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8 hours ago

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January 30, 2025

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An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) is pleased to announce the upcoming Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Course, scheduled to take place from February 26th to 28th, 2025 at the MakCHS Conference Room.

Background
Organized under the SUSTAIN Program, this course is designed to promote excellence in research ethics by equipping participants with a framework that integrates established scientific, professional norms, and ethical principles in research activities.

Course Objectives
Participants will gain the knowledge and skills to identify, manage, and prevent research misconduct, ensuring adherence to ethical standards.

Course Outline
Topics include:

  • Introduction to Professionalism and Ethics
  • Human Subjects Protection and Regulatory Framework in Uganda
  • Humane Handling of Animal Research Subjects
  • Mentor-Mentee Relationships
  • Conflict of Interest Management
  • Collaborative Research (International, Industry)
  • Responsible Financial Management
  • Data Acquisition, Management, Sharing, and Ownership
  • Responsible Authorship and Communication

Target Audience
This course is ideal for:

  • Researchers and Research Administrators
  • Research Assistants and Study Coordinators
  • Graduate Students and Supervisors

Course Fee: UGX 205,000 or USD 56
The fee covers meals and refreshments during the training.

Payment & Registration Details
Payments should be made to:

  • UGX Account: 9030005655047, Stanbic Bank Uganda Ltd, Makerere University College of Health Sciences Research
  • USD Account: 8705613993904, Standard Chartered Bank, MAK CHS NIH

Please share payment proof via email or WhatsApp and bring a hardcopy deposit slip on the first day of training to:

Miriam Musazi
Department of Anatomy, Bioethics Centre, Room C4
Mobile: +256 782 363 996 / +256 701 363 996
Email: mmusazi@gmail.com

Registration Deadline: February 21, 2025


Please note that only fully registered participants by this date will be admitted.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your research ethics skills and network with professionals committed to advancing ethical research practices.

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General

Call for Applications: Masters Student Mobility to Norway 2025

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9 hours ago

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January 30, 2025

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Makerere University (MAK) in collaboration with Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) and Regional Universities Forum (for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) are implementing a five-year CoSTClim project (Collaborative Action for Strengthening Training Capacities in Climate Risk and Natural Resource management). The main goal of the project is to improve the quality of training, education and research at the partner institutions with a dedicated focus on climate risk, disaster risk management and natural resource management. CoSTClim builds on a range of other capacity development projects funded by the Norwegian Government at the partner institutions, and has a specific focus on education.

One of the components of CoSTClim is student mobility from Uganda to Norway and from Norway to Uganda. Therefore, we are inviting applicants from Makerere University and Uganda Martyrs University for Masters student mobility scholarships to NTNU for the Autumn semester in 2025. There are five mobility scholarship slots available for this year. The scholarship will cover 5 months (August-December 2025) stay at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway. The successful candidates can enroll in selected course units at NTNU as well as leveraging the stay to write their master’s thesis. The width and breadth of available course units from which the candidates can select are found: https://www.ntnu.edu/geography/exchange-students.

Limited research supervision will also be given by NTNU staff but the primary supervision responsibility stays with the allocated supervisors at Makerere University or Uganda Martyrs University.

Application procedure is in the document below. The deadline is Friday 28th February 2025.

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