Post Graduate Student Research Capacity Development: Through the Eyes of a Student Mentorship

Abstract

Research capacity development in most African countries has been by and large hampered by inadequate infrastructure, poor remuneration and inability to mentor graduate students. While the capability of funding is a vital condition, however, there are a number of concrete initiatives that could be taken by the higher education and research institutions themselves. This may include the strengthening of graduate study improvements in the management of research and the pooling of resources within the individual departments, faculties as well as across institutions.

In 2001, the University of the Western Cape initiated the Post Graduate Enrolment and Throughput (PET) project (division for post graduate studies) with the aim of helping post graduate students to complete their theses within a reasonable time frame while at the same time conducting workshops on research skills, technical assistance and research fund applications, among other issues.

This paper discusses the post graduate peer mentoring experiences initiated by the University of the Western Cape. The experience of the writing coaches is discussed in relation to research productivity, capacity building, skills in practice and process of research, and contribution to post graduate student output.

Furthermore, the paper focuses on the best practice and models arising from these experiences, and suggests a peer mentorship model to develop research capacity at institutional level, taking into account institutional strategic priorities.