Promoting a Culture of Research: Bridging the Old and the New

The Department of Development Studies under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Lupane State University, Zimbabwe, proposes to hold a two day workshop on the promotion of the culture of research to provide a platform for students postgraduate and early career scholars (new academic staff with limited research experience) to navigate through the importance of research in academia. In doing so, the workshop will invite experienced researchers and scholars to shed more light on research as part of the process of breaking new ground in elevating this culture that has been on a downward trajectory over the past few years. Key themes that will be covered include understanding research in academic writing (dissertations and publishing of papers, book chapters and books), funded projects to address common challenges faced by local communities and grant applications.

Focus will also be prioritized in the application of scholarships and fellowships for students and early career scholars to further their studies particularly at PhD level. Therefore, this workshop will serve as the basis for encouraging research through undertaking and undergoing the PhD journey especially during a time when the African continent is pushing towards producing more PhD graduates to address its development challenges in the 21st century. Another important element addressed by the workshop is the importance of the mentor and mentee relationship. This process will involve the allocation of mentors for students and early career scholars that will be participating in the workshop. It is envisioned that this type of relationship will go beyond the scope of the workshop to foster collaborations, partnerships and coordination for future endeavors in research. Moreover, some of the key stakeholders that will be participating are based in globally recognized universities and thus such a relationship is expected to lay the foundation for networking and academic exchange programmes.

The workshop is targeting forty (40) postgraduate students and ten (10) early career scholars at Lupane State University. Twenty (20) of the participants will be fully funded by YSI. These will be selected from those who would have shown interest through their response to the advert to participate in the workshop. It is envisioned that the workshop will be conducted at the Lupane State University main campus which is located 160 kms away from the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, which also continues to house academic programmes within the Faculty of Commerce and also block programmes for Masters students under the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Therefore, the main campus is ideal given that undergraduate students and early career scholars are mainly located at the main campus. Only Masters students will be transported to the main campus during the duration of this workshop.

The objectives of the workshop are in tandem with the vision and mission of Young Scholars Initiative in networking for the purpose of answering economic questions and inculcating skills in young scholars. The History of Economic Thought Working Group is devoted to disinterring the roots of contemporary economic orthodoxy, exhuming time-honoured rival approaches, and imagining possible futures. Thus, the workshop will create a vibrant platform that contributes to debates on the possible futures for development of Africa, within the broader context of its history and social space, using various approaches. This workshop will thus increase the presence and visibility of the YSI in Southern Africa including Zimbabwe and Lupane State University, which itself has not had an opportunity to be integrated into YSI and global activities.

Objectives
• To equip students with skills in understanding the importance and relevance of the process of research and everything associated with it.
• To enhance the writing skills of students and early career scholars to undertake various research assignments such as dissertation writing and publishing
• To strengthen students’ and early career scholars’ skills in applying for scholarships, fellowships and grants.
• To inculcate the culture of research in the promotion of postgraduate studies particularly Masters and PhD studies
• To integrate young scholars into the broader network of the Young Scholars Initiative and contribute to scholarship that aid development in the global south

The workshop will take place over two days, from the 26th to the 27th of October 2023. The first day will be devoted to welcoming guests, the Keynote speech, presentations and engagements of research, skills on research and the art of writing for academic and non-academic purposes. These engagements will be mainly focused on the resuscitation of the culture of research amongst students and early career scholars. The second day will be focused on using research in the application of scholarships, fellowships and grants. In addition, students and early career scholars will be given an opportunity to present on any research assignments they are undertaking (i.e. dissertations, research articles, scholarships and funding opportunities). Another segment in the second day will be focused on post-studies life with emphasis on postgraduate studies at Masters and PhD levels. The main impetus is for the pairing of these mentees with a mentor to enable them to navigate through this whole process. The workshop will be ended by a tour of Lupane District at the Business Centre to understand the role of the University in addressing some of the socio-economic challenges being confronted by local communities in the district.

By the end of this workshop, students and early career scholars should have been empowered with many research skills required for a young scholar, ranging from navigating the dissertation/thesis writing process, the skills required in writing for publication purposes, and the art of applying for scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

Applications should be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]. Abstracts of not more than 250 words should be sent before 31 August 2023.