Postgraduate students photographed with the supervisors during the 3rd Research Indaba
The University of Venda (Univen) Directorate of Research and Innovation held the 3rd Research Indaba to discuss and find solutions encountered by postgraduate students. The Research Indaba was held on 23 August 2017 at Research Conference Centre.
‘Carving the way forward for research and innovation at Univen’ was the theme of this year’s Research Indaba.
Dr Twaise encouraged postgraduate students to rise above limitations
Dr Nomvula Twaise from Walter Sisulu University as the guest speaker told the audience that prevalence is the key. She encouraged students not to look down upon themselves. “Do not allow your background to determine your future,” she said. Dr Twaise highlighted that she was also once discouraged by her background. “My future seemed to be impossible for me to achieve what I wanted to achieve in life when I was young, but later in life I managed to secure a scholarship to study abroad,” she said.
Prof Crafford advised postgraduate students to refrain from publishing in predatory journals
The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof Jan Crafford, said that they encourage postgraduate students to publish their articles. “Our students should stop publishing in predatory journals. A student must publish a paper prior graduation,” he added.
“It is the duty of supervisors to have a personal relationship with the student. Supervisors should know what is happening in their student’s life so that they will be able to help them where there is a need to do so”.
Do not waste any opportunity given to you-Senior Prof Ekosse
The Director of Research and Innovation, Senior Professor Georges Ekosse, said that every scholar must be mentored. “Mentoring teaches you how to be humbled and yield,” he said. “We have a dream and a duty to put Univen among the top ten universities in South Africa by 2020. We will not entertain anyone who will not make us to realise that goal. You have to raise the standards of our research outputs”.
Senior Prof Ekosse further said “Do not waste any opportunity given to you. Do not allow anyone to put you down or discourage you because we all know that we can do this. Rise above limitations.” He said that there is a need for a paradigm shift. “We need to shift from the way we do things. We are calling for a paradigm shift as researchers. Do not spend many years doing PhD. You have to give education a priority in your life,” he added.
“Research supervisors and the University as a whole have the responsibility to improve Masters and PhD enrolment. Your research should fall within the niche areas such as African heritage, law and education, human and animal health, sustainable and rural development, earth systems and the environment. Be academically driven. Let research drive you,” he concluded.
Overall, the Research Indaba was a resounding success. The Indaba portrayed an eye-opening and empowering experience affirming that a ‘Research’ culture is alive and strong at Univen. There is hope that the Indaba will speed up the research culture at Univen.
The students were discouraged to have fear to register for PhD programme. The postgraduate students suggested that there should be orientation for postgraduate students. They were encouraged to take ownership of their studies. Students were also told to have a good attitude and respect towards their research supervisors.
On resolutions, it was said that the schools should issue dates for proposal presentations and that there should be research methodology workshop.
Postgraduate supervisors and invited guest speakers posing for a photo with Univen management.
Issued by: Department of Communications & Marketing
University of Venda
Tel.: (015) 962 8525
Date: 25 August 2017
