RM&E Coordinator's Desk

Hello Daktari,

I wanted to inquire about the deadline (Date/month) for which the proposal topic should be submitted. I enrolled in May 2015.

Thank you.

Vincent Lekula

Hello everyone,

Thank you everyone for the comments and support. I do appreciate your feedback.

Hellen and Baltasary, your query on similarities or differences between project and thesis is a common question posed by many students. I recently attached a document detailing the rules and regulations as set out by the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) at Maseno University. You can download the document on this platform from the folder labeled SGS Rules and Regulations for Post Graduate Students.  That question is addressed in the document. I highlighted sections in the document to pay attention to.

Kenneth, supervisors are assigned to students by the respective schools under which you are registered. For most schools, that often happens after you have developed a project/research concept and presented/defended it at the department or school level. Find out from your school schedules of concept defense meetings and present your ideas. You will definitely get a supervisor.

Philip, I note your opinions. This is why this platform is there, to air your views freely. My own experience as a researcher is that to be able to progress to higher levels beyond just acquiring a degree certificate, your work and content should be of high quality and intellect. The work also has to be presented correctly so as to meet international standards, as you will soon realize that this degree places you on an International platform where you share your ideas, views and knowledge with a global audience. In my opinion, this is what you need to prepare yourself for. A good idea is a good idea, no one can thrash it.

Sammy, as I mentioned to Kenneth above, supervisors are assigned by respective schools where you are registered. I suggest that you download and read the SGS rules and regulations document I referred to above. I also suggest that it would be worthwhile if students identified supervisors, approached them and sought assistance in concept development way ahead of the defense at the department or school level. Please refer to the social forum for a similar type of question from another member and response I gave.

Elizabeth and Sammy, I am glad the resources on the platform are helpful. There will be more coming on regulations, referencing and citations as well as specialized sections such as questionnaire design, data processing, data analysis, interpretation, presentation etc. Be on the lookout. It would be important to also let me know what else you may need that is not on the platform so that I can upload it for you.

Ultimately, for us to progress and move at a faster rate toward completing our degree programmes, we have to exchange views and share ideas, challenges, solutions, experiences, knowledge and whatever else that pertains to academic excellence. Supervisors and mentors will then move us to higher heights, but the initiative will have to start from all of us, collectively. This is why this platform is there. I hope it will help unlock our collective potential.

I look forward to a fruitful and successful venture.

Thank you for your responses and good luck in your studies.

Kind regards.

Dr. Bonuke.

Dear Dr. Banuke,

I was elated to learn that this forum exists! I actually have downloaded a number of documents which I had no idea they existed. I have filled in the questionnaire which I am confident is going to inform your desk on the gaps. My work is at the SGS awaiting their response. With all due respect, some of my colleagues (I wont mention names) have complained of being given supervisors whom they feel do not have the proper background with regard to their study topics, and my question would be, what is the criteria of one getting a Supervisor? What if a supervisor chose you instead of you choosing him or her? Who does the allocation? Personally am very much okay with my supervisors and so far they are doing a great job.

Otherwise I am so much pleased that the e-Campus began this initiative of a research center because this was definitely a huge gap from the outset. Thank you.

Sammy.

Hi Dr.

Since this is e-learning,it will be right if the presentation and defending of the thesis/project is also made online.Furthermore, I request that the University should Appeal to the governments to create a kitty for development and implementation of  innovations in Kenya. Lastly, more focus should be placed on the content of the project/thesis and not grammar and other writing skills.One can have an idea that is God sent but he may lack the skill to present it using the right format/grammar/language/procedure.Anyway, I stand to be corrected.These are my own personal reservations.

Let also the initial interaction be anonymous because some of our best ideas are trashed just because of our last names betraying us.

Kindly comment about these reservations.

Thank you.

Regards.

Philip

The materials provided so far have given me guidance on how to start my project.  They  are very useful

Hello Dr. Anyona,

I sincerely appreciate the creation of this platform. It is what I believe was missing to complete the eCampus e-learning experience. All the other modules were sufficiently interactive on discussion forums but a research forum was missing. 

I now do hope that the eCampus fraternity will engage in the platform to make it possible for students to be involved in progressive research that is a core pillar for any higher learning institution. 

I personally have been hesitant with my research work but I do feel that this new forum will give me the required hope and impetus to forge forward with it. 

I also share the same concern as Hellen on the exact difference or similarity for that matter between a research project and thesis apart from the 4 and 8 units that each carries respectively. What exactly should be the basis for one choosing one and not the other?

Kind Regards,

Etemesi B. Lubanga

Halo Doc.

I filled the questionaire ,though most of my answers were NO.....Could you help me be allocated a supervisor???

This is my BIGGEST Problem

regards

Hello Charles,

I hope you are well.

Thank you for your response. My hope and desire is to see people graduate within the shortest time possible. I know that if we work as a group, then we will achieve much more and move faster as opposed to everyone struggling as an individual. I hope you will find the site useful, informative and resourceful.

The data I am collecting will help me figure out at what stage different individuals are in their studies. I would then the able to identify individual strengths and challenges and facilitate exchanges among participants with an aim of enhancing self-help among learners. I would pass all information generated to relevant Schools, Departments as well as SGS where necessary so that participants can get help from their mentors, supervisors and tutors.  

Once I collect data and perform analysis, I will post the results on the portal for general information as well as demonstrate aspects of statistics and data presentation strategies that people can adopt.

Kind regards.

Bonuke.

Thank you so much Doc.

I would like to understand the research options given for post graduate students - this is in terms of Thesis Vs Project.

What is the difference/similarity?

What are the preferences one over the other?

What really are the specific areas one needs to determine which one to choose for purposes of qualifying for graduation?

I will be happy to improve my understanding in that area.

Rgds

Hellen

Hallo Doc, 

Thanks for the forum it comes in handy when one is stuck and need to move on/forward.It is very appropriate for us the e-learning,it makes on feel that he/she is not in a boat alone. 

To my question, there was a questionnaire that you sent to us. I would like to ask what happens after filling the form or responding to the questions ? would there be feedback, mostly to check if one is on track in regard to the whole process.

I look forward for a forum that will aid many to realize their graduation dream. 

Regards

Charles.

Hello Hellen,

I hope you are well.

Thank you for your message and a quick response.

I developed the platform with the type of concerns you raise in mind. I  know that the research period can be a challenging time if one lacks good guidance, and as you correctly put it, most students drop by the side. That is partially the concerns this platform is meant to help address.

For me, there is no limit to the type of information i can share in research or science, if sharing helps me move forward. But in this context, i had in mind common challenges you as a student would face in your studies, specifically research work. I meant sharing experiences or challenges in your research period including, but not limited to, issues of developing research concepts, methodologies, data collection strategies, data processing, analysis, presentation and the like. My hope is that stating where you face a challenge and sharing out with other participants on the platform, fellow researchers who may have experience would help you unlock it. I also note that there would be other challenges that may hinder your progress, that need to be shared out. However, it would be upon you to decide what you want to share as a means of getting help to unlock any barriers you may be facing.

Moving forward, i hope to introduce forums that would address specific issues/challenges, e.g a forum discussing data analysis techniques, or research methodology designs etc.. For now, whatever queries you have, address them to me so that i can advice if you need to share them out or not as well as determine the correct forum.

Good luck with your studies.

Kind regards.

Dr. Bonuke.

Hello Dr. Anyona,

I think having such a platform is a great idea since it provides a platform we can discuss our experiences during our research period, a period when most student just drop along the cracks.

I would like it clarified exactly what kind of information should we share, make inquiries on etc..

I have a few querries and would like to make sure where this can be asked.

Thanking you in advance

Rgds

Hellen