Experiences of doctoral students enrolled in a research fellowship program to support doctoral training in Africa (2014 to 2018): The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa odyssey.

Autor: Balogun FM; Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Malele-Kolisa Y; School of Oral Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa., Nieuwoudt SJ; School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa., Jepngetich H; School of Public Health, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya., Kiplagat J; College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya., Morakinyo OM; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Dawa J; College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya., Chandiwana N; Ezintsha, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa., Chikandiwa A; Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa., Akinyemi O; Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Olusanya BA; Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Afolabi EK; Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria., Dube N; School of Human and Community Development, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa., Obembe T; Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria., Karumi E; School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya., Ndikumana C; Department of Governance and Public Administration, School of Governance, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda., Bukenya JN; School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Chikalipo M; Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi., Ayamolowo SJ; Department of Nursing Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria., Shema E; College of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda., Kapanda L; College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi., Maniragaba F; School of Statistics and Planning, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Khuluza F; Pharmacy Department, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi., Zakumumpa H; School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Mbada K; Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria., Sang H; School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya., Kaindoa E; Environmental Health and Ecological Science Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2021 Jun 10; Vol. 16 (6), pp. e0252863. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jun 10 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252863
Abstrakt: Background: The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) aims to transform higher education in Africa. One of its main thrusts is supporting promising university faculty (fellows) to obtain high quality doctoral training. CARTA offers fellows robust support which includes funding of their attendance at Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes) throughout the doctoral training period. An evaluation is critical in improving program outcomes. In this study; we, CARTA fellows who attended the fourth JAS in 2018, appraised the CARTA program from our perspective, specifically focusing on the organization of the program and its influence on the fellows' individual and institutional development.
Methods: Exploratory Qualitative Study Design was used and data was obtained from three focus group discussions among the fellows in March 2018. The data were analyzed using thematic approach within the framework of good practice elements in doctoral training-Formal Research Training, Activities Driven by Doctoral Candidates, Career Development as well as Concepts and Structures.
Results: In all, 21 fellows from six African countries participated and all had been in the CARTA program for at least three years. The fellowship has increased fellows research skills and expanded our research capacities. This tremendously improved the quality of our doctoral research and it was also evident in our research outputs, including the number of peer-reviewed publications. The CARTA experience inculcated a multidisciplinary approach to our research and enabled significant improvement in our organizational, teaching, and leadership skills. All these were achieved through the well-organized structures of CARTA and these have transformed us to change agents who are already taking on research and administrative responsibilities in our various home institutions. Unfortunately, during the long break between the second and the third JAS, there was a gap in communication between CARTA and her fellows, which resulted in some transient loss of focus by a few fellows.
Conclusion: The CARTA model which builds the research capacity of doctoral fellows through robust support, including intermittent strategic Joint Advanced Seminars has had effective and transformative impacts on our doctoral odyssey. However, there is a need to maintain the momentum through continuous communication between CARTA and the fellows all through this journey.
Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: All authors are fellows of the Consortium for Advanced Training in Africa (CARTA) and their doctoral studies were supported by CARTA. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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