Vice-chancellor Prof Laban Ayiro mentoring Faculty in Research Method at Amphitheatre - Athi River

Full time faculty who attended research capacity building workshop from 19th – 24th March 2023 were awarded a professional certificate in postgraduate instruction on 4th April 2023. 

The week-long workshop that took place at Travellers’ Beach Hotel in Mombasa was extended by a one-day final session conducted at Daystar University Main Campus Athi River on 29th March. Prof. Ayiro noted that the certificate will be a requirement for those seeking promotion.

The lead facilitator Prof. Laban Ayiro mounted the workshops in an effort to mentor full time faculty in advanced research methodology, postgraduate teaching, supervision and examination, and grant proposal writing. Other facilitators included Chair of the University Council Prof. George Njoroge and visiting lecturer Prof. Egara Kabaji.

The training curriculum covered such topics as:  

• Towards a Culture of Excellence in Research and Postgraduate Instruction 
• Administration and Management of Postgraduate Studies: An overview  
• Research Methodology: An Overview  
• Reviewing and Citing Literature  
• Construction of a Problem Statement  
• Theoretical and Conceptual Framework  
• Quantitative and Qualitative Research Decision: Study’s Rationale and Significance 
• Qualitative Research Design: Concepts in Quantitative  
• Research Knowledge and Research Methods  
• Preparing Research Results and Writing the Discussion  
• Towards an Effective Graduate School  
• Thesis Examination Postgraduate Supervision: Role of Supervisors, Supervisees, examiners, Deans, and School of Graduate Studies  
• Ethical Considerations in Research  
• Demystifying Academic Writing and Publishing  
• Research, Innovation and Intellectual Property Entrepreneurship  
• Grants: Looking Beyond Conventional Funding Sources  
• Grants: The Science of Writing a bankable and fundable grant  
• Funding Landscape and Identification of Grants  
• Towards a Creation of a Research University 

Speaking to the Infospot, Prof. Ayiro said the training was geared towards transforming Daystar University into a postgraduate and research university. He observed that a university cannot become a Graduate School until faculty members have been capacitated. 

“The workshop is of great value because as we develop we want to capture the working class market which is looking to do Masters and PhDs. These are all about research supervision, publications and grant proposal writing,” he submitted.

The VC said that several Daystar partners and well-wishers would like to see the institution become a research University to advance the mission of Christ. He acknowledged that other universities are doing research but they do not have the Christ-centred values that Daystar holds.

“As Daystar University celebrates 50-years of existence, we should be having more Graduate than undergraduate students,” stated Prof. Ayiro.

On her part, the DVC-Academic, Research and Student Affairs Prof. Faith Nguru anticipates the workshop will enhance the research output of the University as lecturers conduct research, sharpen their skills, and give better instruction in the classroom. 

“I expect a lot of research to come out of this seminar, and that when published in reputable journals, these researches will increase visibility of Daystar University,” said Prof. Nguru.   

Two participants interviewed had this to say about the workshop: 

“What has come out strongly in the training is that as faculty, we ought to be visible when it comes to research and publication because what makes a university is its research output,” said Ann Mwende David, a lecturer in the School of Communication.   

According to Peter Lee Ochieng Oduor, the training greatly benefited him in terms of writing.  He is now more confident to publish in reputable journals and help his School of Theology and Pastoral Studies with exposure and response to calls. “We can now mentor students in research, writing and publishing,” he said.