workshop on research methodology 2023 india

June 5, 2023

June 9, 2023

Five-day workshop on

Research methodology, hands on training, organized  by, school  of  social  sciences  and  languages, vit   chennai, 5  june  to  9  june  2023, click here for brochure, related events.

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National  Workshop on  “Research Methodology” (NWRM- 2023)

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• National  Workshop on  “Research Methodology”…

National  Workshop on  “Research Methodology” (NWRM- 2023)

For Faculty Members | Research Scholars | PG students & School Teachers

Date:  Dec 12 th  – 19 th , 2023

The Department of Physics organized an online National workshop on “Research Methodology”  from 12 th – 19 th  December 2023 (between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM)  via Zoom platform. The details of the program are as follows:

The event started with the welcome address by Dr. N. Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Prof. T. Thyagarajan, Dean -MIT campus, Anna University has delivered scintillating lecture on “ Road map for academic and sponsored research”

He elaborated how a researcher intends to carry out their research, logical, systematic plan to resolve a research problem. He explained  the basic key essential paramaters for the researchers and the  topic selection, Literature Survey, Problem formulation, Identify Supervisor, Research Proposal for getting funding, etc First day, we have extensive, detailed and systematic researcher,  with us.

We received overwhelming 300 registrations, 180 participants including Faculty members, Research scholars and UG/PG students from all over India and abroad from Srilanka, Bangaladesh, Nepal, Sulthanate of Omen, Malaysia, Mynmar, Ghana, Nigeria and Mexico, participated in the Workshop.

In the interactive session, the participants raised questions to the speaker and discussed about the topics. The participants gave very good feedback to the resource person. The resource persons thanked the management and organizers for arranging the virtual symposium. 

        The session was chaired by Dr. N. Asokan, Hod/Physics. Dr. M. Dhanasekar Assistant Professor (O.G), Dr. T. Beena, Assistant Professor (SL.G), proposed the vote of thanks. This successful event was coordinated by Dr. M. Dhanasekar Assistant Professor (O.G) & Dr. T. Beena, Assistant Professor (SL.G).

The event started with the welcome address by Dr. N. .Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Dr. Sumanta Dutta is a senior faculty member of the Postgraduate and Research Department of Commerce (M. Com.), St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, under the University of Calcutta has delivered scintillating lecture on “ Ethical side of Research and Publication” . He elaborated the research ethics like Publication Ethics and plagarism policy. He has highlighted in his presentation, how unethical practices such as falsification of data and plagiarism which cause long-term damage to the dependability of published literature and also to rectify the mistakes after this practice. He also elaborated the different plagiarism detection tools  and  how to  detect the various types of plagarisms like chat GPT content based plagarism.

The event started with the welcome address by Dr. N. .Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Dr. J. M. Arul kamaraj , Assistant Professor, Loyola College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu has delivered scintillating lecture “Emerging Trends and innovative Approaches in Contemporary Research”.

He elaborated the tools for literature review, the method to collect the literature and the available tools for useful literature review project.

The event started with the welcome address by Dr. N. Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Dr. A. K. Priya,   Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India has delivered scintillating lecture on   “Intellectual Property rights $ effective patent drafting “

Day 5  

The event started with the welcome address by Dr. N. Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Dr. S. Kumaravel, Assistant Professor , Head of the Social work DepartmentRajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development Sriperumbudur, Tamil Naduhas delivered “ Literature Review “

Day 6  

The event started with the welcome address by Dr. N. Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Dr. M. Subburaj,  M. E., Ph.D., Professor & Head   IQAC Shadan College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana has delivered   “Embracing your doctoral studies you become you square”

The event started with welcome address by Dr. N. Asokan, Associate Professor & Head/Physics. The resource person Dr. T. Pavan kumar, Senior Scientist,  CSIR Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Topic:  “Innovation and IPR for academics and Research”

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Five Day Workshop on Research Methodology.

Tuljapur off-campus.

Date and time: Oct. 30, 2023 10:00AM - Nov. 3, 2023 8:00PM

Five Day Workshop on Research Methodology

October 30 to November 3, 2023

School of Research Methodology

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai

The workshop is organised by School of Research Methodology at Rural campus Tuljapur, Maharashtra.

About the Programme

The aim of the Five Day Workshop on 'Research Methodology'  is  to enable  the participants in  social sciences research approaches – Qualitative and quantitative .

W o rkshop O bj e c t i v e s

The objective of this workshop are:

To  provide  a comprehensive over  view  of  qualitative  and quantitative research framework.

Course Content

Different approaches of social science research.

Fundamental of social science research

Tools and methods of data collection for qualitative and quantitative research

Research based on secondary data

Data analysis using statistical software

Reporting and presentation

Citation, reference management tool and plagiarism

W o rkshop D yn a mi cs

Basic understanding of the concept of research methodology is necessary to appreciate the program. Hence, the workshop will start with some theoretical input sessions so as to help the participants to brush the knowledge in basic research methods. Thus both theoretical and practical sessions will be arranged so that the participants could understand, appreciate and able to meaningfully interpret the output.

P articipant Selection

             The participants will be selected on the first come first serve basis

   The seats  are limited, if  the number of seats  gets  filled  before the last  date of application,  no subsequent applications will be accepted

Eligibility:

Researchers, M. Phil/Ph.D research scholars, teachers and NGO working in social sciences subjects in any sector will benefit from participating in this workshop.

Course Fees: N ot e : The workshop course fee on Qualitative Research Methodology is Rs. 5,000.00 and for TISS Alumni Rs. 4000.00 per person. The fee will cover course materials, workshop certificate, group photograph, tea and lunch during the workshop. Payment can be made through online registration through the link.  The number of participants for the workshop is restricted to 30 to 40. Last date for registering to the programme is 23 rd  October 2023 .

Accommodation: a limited seats on twin share basis will be available in guest house at rural campus, Tuljapur @ 500/- per person per day if informed in advance. Participants will have to bear their own expenses for travel, boarding and lodging. Registration fees paid is not refundable except in case of medical background based on request.

Resource Persons

Prof. Anil Sutar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Prof. R. B. Bhagat, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Dr. D. P. Singh, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Prof Ramesh Jare, Deputy Director RC Tuljapur

Some resource person from International Institute of Population Sciences Mumbai

Course co-ordinators

Prof. D. P. Singh  and Prof Ramesh Jare

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

For any querries regarding workshop contact

Mob: + 91 9819177709 (DP Singh) and 9850355291 (Prof Ramesh Jare)

E-Mail: d [email protected] , [email protected]

Register Now

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Training Programme on Research Methodology in Social Sciences

Dates:  11-22 April 2023

The last date for applying has been extended to 6th April, 2023

The Council for Social Development (CSD), New Delhi, is organising a  Twelve-day Training Programme on Research Methodology in Social Science  for M.Phil./Ph.D. Scholars of Indian Universities, colleges and academic institutions and professionals working in the field of social development from  11-22 April 2023 .

The objective of the programme is to provide understanding of various aspects of research methodology including research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, data preparation, empirical analysis, academic writing and interpretation. The programme seeks to i) discuss conceptual issues on emerging areas of social science research; ii) improve skills and the ability to undertake research on those issues using appropriate datasets, statistical tools and methods and estimation procedures; and iii) discuss the nature of research dissemination .  The methodology programme will consist of lectures by eminent academicians, group discussions besides hands-on experience with datasets using statistical techniques. 

The target group of the programme is young social science researchers who are enrolled for M.Phil./Ph.D. in a UGC recognized university/deemed university/colleges/institutes of national importance and ICSSR Research Institutes and professions working in the field of social development. A batch of 30-35 participants will be selected on an all-India basis from various disciplines of social sciences.

Broad Themes included in the Course

• Introduction to Social Science Research and research process, theoretical perspectives in social science research, Notions of Objectivity and subjectivity in Social Science Research
• Reviewing literature
• Qualitative and quantitative research designs, methods, and instruments
• Analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data as well as mixed methods research
• Formulating research questions
• Pre-requisites and preparation for qualitative and quantitative research, Research ethics and integrity
• Tools for Data Collection, Interview Schedule and Questionnaire, Case Study and Observation
• Principles and techniques of statistical analysis
• Statistical tools and Statistical Packages for Social Sciences, MS EXCEL and STATA
• Building Academic writing skills

Learning outcomes

Upon the completion of the course, the participants will:

• Understand research terminology
• Be aware of the ethical principles of research, ethical challenges and approval processes
• Describe quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods approaches to research
• Identify the components of a literature review process
• Critically analyze published research
• Be able to write high quality research proposals, thesis/ dissertations, study reports and research papers.

Other Details

Course Contribution: The contribution from each participant is Rs 7000/- which covers the cost of course material, lunch, tea/coffee.

The Course contribution can be paid by Demand Draft/Crossed Cheque, favouring ‘Council for Social Development’ payable at Delhi. Alternatively, online fund transfer can be made to the Council’s Account, by way of NEFT.

The details are as follows:

Name of the Bank: Bank of India Branch: Khan Market, New Delhi Full Name of Account: Council for Social Development Account Number: 600720100050048 Swift Code: BKIDINBBKHM IFSC Code: BKID0006007 Micr Code: 110013014 Reference Description: Main Account Type of Account: Current Account

The participants will have to make their own arrangement for travel and accommodation.

Interested candidates may fill the application form and submit it through email to [email protected] on or before March 25, 2023 with the subject line ‘Application for CSD- RMC 2023’. Alternatively, they can post the application form to Ms Jaya Nair by super scribing ‘Application for CSD- RMC 2023’.

Selected candidates will be informed by April 2, 2023.

For further query, email: [email protected].

Registration Form

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International Research Methodology Workshop on Fieldwork Research in India

Sndt women’s university bharatiya gyan, sanskrit evam yog kendra, university of quebec montreal (uqam), bureau du québec à mumbai (bqm), & tata institute of social sciences (tiss) jointly organize international research methodology workshop on fieldwork research in india: issues and challenges, monday, march 13 th 2023 time : 10:00 am - 5:00 pm venue: committee room, sndt women's university, juhu campus, mumbai.

Dear Friends!  Join Us for the Methodology Panels on March 13 th and March 14 th 2023. Any Teacher, Researcher, Professional with a flare for creativity, innovation and a belief in participatory research can join the Panels. No Registration Fee. Attendees will receive Participation Certificates.

Poster of International Research Methodology Workshop on Fieldwork Research in India: Issues and Challenges    

Kindly register for the programs using the following link - :  https://forms.gle/ovgd9AQcFYJZFrzQ9

Copyright © SNDT Women's University 2023.

Cochrane India

Workshop on methodology for writing a systematic review.

14th February 2023, Time: 10:00 AM-05:00 PM

Organizer : Cochrane Affiliate Centre: Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi Venue : Conference Hall- 301, ICMR-HQRS, New-Delhi | Registration: Free

Registration link

Workshop agenda

• 5 Day Online FDP on Qualitative Research and Data Analysis in Public Health and Social Sciences for Research and Impact Evaluations Hands on with Software Including AI Powered Software Atlas
• Renew your Aadhaar Card Older than 10 years (Free till 14th Sept 2024)
• ICSSR Sponsored Ten-Day Research Methodology Course for Research Scholars at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University October 14 to 23 2024 Srinagar Garhwal Uttarakhand
• 2024 Second International Conference on Artificial Intelligence An Emerging Technology in Management
• Free ONE-MONTH ONLINE FDP Organized by MALAVIYA MISSION TEACHER TRAINING CENTRE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WARANGAL

ICSSR Sponsored 10 Days Free Research Methodology Course by Nirma University

Ten Days Research Methodology Course for M.Phil./Ph.D./PDF Scholars in Social Sciences from September 4 th to 14 th 2023, Organized by Institute of Commerce, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, the course is Sponsored by Indian Council of Social SciencesResearch (ICSSR), New Delhi

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

This course aims to provide the participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to conduct scientific research effectively. The participants shall be familiarised with the data collection methods and shall be able to select appropriate data collection tools, develop measurement instruments, and ensure data reliability and validity.

Different data analysis techniques, including quantitative and qualitative methods shall be introduced and

participants shall learn how to analyze and interpret data using statistical software, qualitative coding, and thematic analysis.

The course further emphasizes ethical considerations in research, including obtaining informed consent, protecting participants’ privacy and confidentiality, and conducting research with integrity, preventing plagiarism.

The participants shall learn to present their research findings effectively through oral presentations, written reports, and academic writing.

Hand-on training sessions shall be conducted using relevant statistical software packages, e-library resources, and reference management.

Additionally, Paper Clinics shall facilitate fine-tuning the working research papers of the participants. The participants would be able to build a quality paper that shall be further reviewed and published into an edited book with ISBN from a renowned publisher.

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

• E-library and e-resources, Zotero –Reference Management System
• Use of Data in Social Sciences, CMIE Prowess Database
• Data – Parametric and Non-Parametric Tests using SPSS
• Regression Analysis, Logistic regression analysis using SPSS
• Panel Data Analysis using STATA; Structural Equation Modelling using Smart PLS
• Text mining, Thematic Analysis, and Content Analysis using NVIVO Software
• Use of AI for Research, Bibliometric Analysis using VoSViewer and Biblioshiny
• Paper Clinic: Structure of article, Ethics of academic Writing, Preventing Plagiarism, Publication Process, Journal Search Strategies, Responding to reviewers ‘comments, revisions.

The course will be conducted OFFLINE at the University c at the Nirma University campus. There is NO FEE as this is an ICSSR-funded Programme.

Number of Seats: There are 30 seats.

Applications are invited from registered M.Phil/Ph.D./PDF scholars in UGC-recognized Universities/ Colleges/ Institutions in any branch of social sciences. However, preference shall be given to research scholars from the disciplines of commerce, management, and allied disciplines.

Applications will be scrutinized on the basis of the strength of their motivation, stage of research, and first-time applicants for research Methodology/similar workshop. The selected candidates must submit the registration form duly signed and forwarded by the Ph.D. supervisor and the Head of Department/ Institute/ Dean/ Director as applicable. The registration form shall be emailed to the selected participants., stage of research, and first-time applicants for research Methodology/similar workshop.

Travel and Accommodation of Participants Attending the Course:

Accommodation arrangements shall be made for outstation participants on a twin-sharing basis. Travel costs of participants shall be reimbursed only for second class/sleeper class/ bus fare. There may be a capon travel cost reimbursement depending on the available budget. All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) shall be made available to all the participants.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are required to apply for the course through the online registration link- 

https://forms.gle/4QzHy4TNwfzQuHNq8

You shall also be required to attach the following along with the online application:

• Ph.D. registration proof
• A 300-word summary stating the motivation for attending this course.

Important Dates:

• The last date for submitting the online application form is August 6, 2023, until 12:00 noon.
• Intimation to Selected Candidates -August 10, 2023
• Confirmation by Selected Candidates –August 14, 2023
• Communication of travel plans by the candidates – August 21, 2023

Contact Details:

Course Director: Prof. Udai Lal Paliwal

Co-Course Director: Dr. Sumita Shroff – +91-9427489770

In case of any queries, please feel free to writeus at

[email protected]

• ICSSR Sponsored 10 days research methodology by Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Amarkantak
• ICSSR Sponsored Two Weeks Capacity Building Programme on Research Methodology and Academic Writing for Teachers and Researchers

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Seven Days Workshop on Research Methodology

Aligarh : The Coaching and Guidance Cell, Sir Syed Hall (South), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is organizing a seven days national workshop on Research Methodology for Humanities and Social Sciences, in collaboration with the UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, AMU on May 19-25, 2023.

The Workshop will be conducted in hybrid mode (online and offline) at the Strachey Hall, under the guidance of Dr Farooq Ahmad Dar (Provost and Workshop Director) and Md Ehtashamul Islam Khan (Senior Hall and Organizing Secretary of the Workshop).

Dr. Muzamil Mushtaq (Warden Incharge) and Mr. Abdul Matin are the workshop convener and coordinator respectively. The workshop will also feature Dr. Faiza Abbasi, Director, UGC-HRDC, AMU.

Interested candidates can register through https://forms.gle/A3rT1t6QAgA5nYP98. Registration fee is Rs. 500/- only. Further enquiries can be made by dialing 8423462544, 6280596685 or through email: [email protected] .

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Workshop on Quantitative Research Methods 2023

Lokniti-Programme for Comparative Democracy, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, invites applications for the summer ‘Workshop on Quantitative Research Methods ’, geared to train students of Indian politics, to be held in Bengaluru between second and third week of June 2023.

This is the 15th Summer School being organized by Lokniti-CSDS. Some of the leading scholars working on empirical methods in Political Science have been involved in designing this summer school. In this Summer School, there will be special emphasis on understanding of quantitative data on Indian politics. We plan to bring together a group of political scientists with the aim of providing them an opportunity to improve their skills in quantitative analysis. The selected participants will be given a set of readings before they come to attend the workshop and will be expected to attend lectures and practical data analysis sessions. 

We invite the following categories of candidates to apply for this workshop (preference will be given to young researchers): 

a). Teachers of Political Science in colleges and universities who are working on empirical subjects and would benefit from further training. 

b). Research students of Political Science who are working on empirical themes for their M. Phil. or Ph. D. dissertations and can benefit from further training. 

c). Any other person (including those from outside Political Science and outside academia) who are interested in making sense of politics by analyzing quantitative data. 

Please send your detailed CV with a statement of research interest (those already registered for M. Phil or PhD should clearly mention the topic of their dissertation along with a brief summary of the objectives and methodologies used) in about 500 words. Applicants should also go through the questionnaire used for the National Election Study 2019. The questionnaire can be accessed here . Participants are expected to submit a 500 words Note on a research question that interests them based on this questionnaire. Selection for the workshop will be made on the basis of these two write-ups submitted by candidates besides their CVs. The last date for receiving the applications closed on 17th April 2023.   

Please note that this is a full time residential training course and candidates admitted to the workshop are expected to stay at the Institute and engage in full time work on all days during this period. 

Participants need to bear their travel expenses from their place of residence to Bengaluru and back. The exact dates of the Summer School will be announced later. The host institution will take care of the accommodation and food for all the participants for the entire duration of the workshop. 

Please send your applications by email to summerschool(at)csds.in.

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Quick Enquiry

Publish your research.

Duration: 2 hours

Participants: Research scholars, early career researchers and faculty members engaged in research Minimum participants: 20

Description:

Publishing research is not just a critical need of pursuing an academic and research career, but it has significant implication for your and your organization’s success, recognition and contribution to research and knowledge. The seminar is designed to address the needs of those who are seeking to publish their research for the first time as well as those who are stuck in writer’s block and waiting for some breakthrough. This 2-hour seminar is designed to encourage and make researchers at ease in writing their research findings. In this workshop you will learn:

• The purpose of your research writing
• Overcoming your mental blocks in writing a research paper
• Layout and structure of your research paper
• Organizing your thoughts and findings to form constructive arguments
• Dealing with review comment comments and suggestions

Additional service: Get personalized feedback on your working draft from research experts (fees: 2000/-rupees per paper)

MANAGE YOUR RESEARCH TIME

Managing research timing is not just essential to produce result but also for its publication. Many research couldn’t get publish because of its old data and consequent findings that become irrelevant in the changed context. This seminar helps you to address your critical barriers in managing your research time efficiently. The seminar is designed to address the needs of both early career researchers as well as established research faculty juggling to find a balance between research and teaching timings. This 2-hour seminar is designed to empower researchers to manage their research timing so that their world load and demands of research publication do not overwhelm them. In this seminar you will learn to:

• Set an efficient timeline for your research
• Address your individual research barriers
• Overcome delays attributed to your other accountabilities
• Manage your research workload efficiently
• Produce results in the given deadlines.

Additional service: Get your research planner to manage your research timings & efficiency (charges apply).

APPLY FOR RESEARCH FUNDING

Description :

Funding is a critical research barrier, particularly when you are not aware of it. Research funding comes in multiple forms and channels. This seminar not only sheds light on various opportunities and challenges of research funding, but also suggest pathways for success. The seminar is designed to address the needs of both early career researchers as well as established research faculty to enhance their research profile by taking advantages of various funding opportunities. This 2-hour seminar is designed to empower researchers to apply and secure research funding to promote their research career. In this seminar you will learn:

• Type and nature of research funding
• Research funding for beginners, early career and established researchers
• Associated opportunities and challenges
• Meeting critical requirements
• Managing funding applications

Additional service: Get personalized support services for your research funding application (charges apply).

ENHANCE YOUR RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY

Managing research productivity is essential to ensure your consistent growth and success in academics or research career. This seminar brings forth various strategies to enhance your research productivity. The seminar is designed to address the needs of both early career researchers as well as established research faculty to enhance their research profile. This 2-hour seminar is designed to empower researchers to manage their research workload efficiently for consistent growth and success. In this seminar you will learn to

• Plan your research outcome in advance
• Strategies to manage your research outcomes
• Overcome barriers of procrastination and delays
• Optimize your success with team work
• Avail various opportunities to add on your research productivity

Additional service: Get personalized advice to manage your research productivity (charges apply).

ALL ABOUT RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Duration: 3 hours

Participants: Research scholars, early career researchers and faculty members engaged in research Minimum participants: 10

Research begins with a research proposal. It is an essential requirement for your research career either to join as a PhD student to do research on your area of interest. This workshop not just sets the context but also removes your barriers in writing research proposal by addressing your questions and concerns. This 3- hour workshop led by a research expert enables you to:

• Learn characteristics of a winning research proposal
• Familiarize with various technicalities of a research proposal
• Understand criticality of your approach
• Organize your contents for better results
• Assess your chances for success and failure
• Get onetime personalized feedback on your working draft.

Additional service: Online sessions are also available on request for students and research scholars living out of Delhi and NCR

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDANCE ON RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Duration: 3 weeks (2 sessions per week)

Participants: Research scholars, early career researchers and faculty members engaged in research Minimum participants: 1

This 3-week long workshop is designed for those who are aiming to submit their proposal and need greater support in its conceptualization, formulation and submission. The personalized guidance enables its participant to build confidence in his/her work and enhances its chances of acceptance by addressing various gaps and shortcomings. This workshop is perfect for those who don’t have any training in research or how to write a research proposal. Starting from the scratch, this workshop enables you to learn and write a successful research proposal in 3 weeks.

DESIGN YOUR RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This workshop is designed to help you to design a suitable methodology to address your research objectives. In this course you will learn:

• Significance of research methodology
• Methodology for different types of research
• Advantage and disadvantages of different research methods.
• Applicability and suitability of various research methods for your study
• Building on the credibility of your own research design.

FIELD RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

Participants: Research scholars, early career researchers and faculty membersengaged in research Minimum participants: 20

This workshop is designed to help you to design and learn your own field research for maximum data output to fulfill on your research objectives. In this workshop you will learn:

• Significance of field research
• Field techniques for qualitative research
• Field techniques for quantitative research
• Advantage and disadvantages of different techniques
• Design your own field research

DATA AND DATABASE FOR RESEARCH

This workshop is designed to help you to learn and understand different data and database that can help you to fulfill on your research objectives. In this course you will learn:

• Different types and nature ofresearch data
• Database for research
• Opportunities and constraints of different database
• Handling large dataset
• Applicability and drawing findings from large database

Full-day Training Workshop

Scenatio-building approach for participatory research.

Duration: 7 hours (09.00am – 05.00pm)

Scenario-building approach has been applied in various fields including military and business planning, and has gained further attention to its more recent applications in the field of global challenges including climate change, and economic crises. This training session not only informs you about various uses and applicability of this method but also trains you to use it for your participatory research for a better outcome. In this full day training you will learn:

• History and types of scenario-building methods
• Opportunities and constraints of different scenario-building methods and processes
• Contribution of scenario-building approach in generating qualitative and quantitative data
• Forecasting a future by using scenario-building approach
• Apply scenario-building process in your research.

Additional service: Personalized guidance for the application of scenario building method to your research (charges apply)

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

Qualitative research has become all the more significant and relevant in the increasingly complex situation of modern India. It is frequently used across all social sciences and humanities to draw significant findings about various social issues. This training session not only familiarizes you with various qualitative research methods but also trains you to use it to fulfill your research objectives.

In this full day training you will learn:

• Methods of qualitative research
• Advantages and constraints of different qualitative methods
• Various ways to overcome your field work challenges
• Drawing relevant findings and conclusions
• Addressing issues of confidentiality and research ethics.

Additional service: Personalized service to design your qualitative research study (charges apply)

QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

Quantitative research primarily deals with data and numbers and can be applied to various fields across both natural and social sciences. However, some crucial technicalities need to be always addressed in order to apply your research findings in a larger context. This training session not only familiarizes you with various quantitative research methods but will also trains you to use it to fulfill your research objectives.

• Types and use of quantitative research
• Methods of quantitative research
• Advantages and constraints of different quantitative methods
• Differences between quantitative and qualitative methods
• Drawing the relevant findings and conclusions

Additional service: Personalized service to design your research study (charges apply)

• Scholarship
• Internships
• Paid Courses
• Case Analysis
• Social Science
• Research Internship

Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) & Centre for Post-Graduate Legal Studies and sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is organizing a “10-day Capacity Building cum workshop on Research Methodology & Introduction to Statistical Package for Social Science [SPSS]” from on 17th June to 28th June 2023 at Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai.

Our program is tailored to cater to the needs of researchers from different backgrounds and domains, including graduate and postgraduate students, faculty members, industry researchers, etc. The program will be facilitated by experienced and accomplished academic personalities like Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice Chancellor, National Law School of India University Bengaluru, Prof. (Dr.) G. S Bajpai Vice Chancellor, National Law University Delhi, Prof.(Dr.) Vijender Kumar Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, Prof. Dr. V C Vivekanandan, Vice-Chancellor, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, Prof. (Dr.) Shashikala Gurpur, Director, Symbiosis Law School Pune, Prof. (Dr.) Arvind Tiwari, Dean, School of Law, Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai, Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Chowbe, Pro Vice Chancellor, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Dr. Durgambini Patel, Dean, Kirti P. Mehta School of Law, NMIMS University of Maharashtra, Prof. (Dr.) Anil Sutar, Associate Dean, School of Research Methodology, Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai, Prof. (Dr.) Ritu Gupta, Professor of Law, National Law University, Delhi and other luminaries will equip the participants with practical research tools and techniques. In addition to the rigorous training sessions, the participants will have ample opportunities to interact and network with fellow researchers from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Our program fosters a collaborative learning environment, and we encourage participants to share their experiences, insights, and perspectives. We believe that this will create a platform for cross-disciplinary learning and innovation, which will enhance their research skills and expand their horizons.

We are confident that this program will provide you with a valuable learning experience and equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to become a successful researcher. We look forward to welcoming you to the program and sharing this exciting journey with you. The mode of participation is hybrid i.e. both online and offline.

 A certificate of Participation shall be provided. The maximum intake for the Course shall be limited to  30 participants  (20 for outstation and 10 for local). Those who have attended any such type of program sponsored by either UGC or ICSSR should not apply. The selection committee will select the participants for the Course based on their research proposal/ paper. The aspects like representation of different Social Science Disciplines, Social Background, Gender, etc. may also be taken into consideration while selecting the Candidates. Notification of selected candidates will be communicated to their registered emails.

We hope that you will consider our invitation to participate in the “10-day Capacity Building cum Workshop on Research Methodology & Introduction to Statistical Package for Social Science [SPSS]” scheduled between 17th June to 28th June 2023.

The last for filling out the application is 5th June 2023; the communication of confirmation of participation will be communicated on 10th June 2023.

FOR REGISTRATION &  DETAILED INFORMATION KINDLY REFER TO THE BROCHURE & FLYER

Please feel free to contact us at:   [email protected]  or our event coordinator Matil Mittal (+91-7889063523) for further queries regarding the program.

For more details, Refer to the brochure here

• Capacity Building cum Workshop , MNLU Mumbai , Research Methodology

Home » Blog » 10-day Capacity Building cum Workshop on Research Methodology and Introduction to SPSS” at MNLU Mumbai| 17th to 28th June, 2023.

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Office of the Vice President for Research

Ui announces new center for social science innovation.

Last week, the Iowa Board of Regents approved a new name and scope for the University of Iowa’s prominent hub for social science research. The Public Policy Center, and its subsidiary unit the Iowa Social Science Research Center, are being replaced by a new Center for Social Science Innovation . The reimagined center will serve as a central hub where social scientists including faculty, staff, and PhD students, can find a community of research support and resources.

Mark Berg , director of the unit since January 2023, will continue to lead the center’s operations. Berg is a professor and collegiate scholar in the Department of Sociology and Criminology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

“The social sciences have long been an important and highly regarded pillar of the teaching, research, and community outreach missions at the University of Iowa,” said Kristy Nabhan-Warren, associate vice president for research. “Under Professor Berg’s leadership, the refocused Center for Social Science Innovation will provide the research infrastructure needed to support social scientists as they explore 21 st century issues affecting human welfare.”  

The center’s restructuring was guided by an independent internal review committee and a transition team staffed by four faculty, including two associate deans for research.

“The reviewers identified several opportunities to reduce redundancies with other campus units and provide end-to-end resources for scholars to address longstanding and emerging societal challenges,” said Berg. “This new structure allows us to focus our energy, and deploy strategic resources to advance, support, and celebrate interdisciplinary social science research across our campus.” 

As part of its mission to function as a dynamic community for social scientists, the center will implement a faculty affiliate program to create a diverse network of social science scholars on campus. 

Four new core priority areas support the center’s mission: research incubation, survey and multimethodology research services, grant development, and dissemination. 

Research Incubation

The center will host several major fellowships, consortium groups, workshops, and residency programs to catalyze research ideas. The programs are open to faculty, scientific staff, and graduate students. 

A Researcher-in-Residence Program provides dedicated time and support for faculty and scientific staff to research topics of significant public interest. Participants in each cohort meet regularly to share updates, discuss roadblocks and resources, and give and receive feedback. 

Megan Gilster, associate professor in the School of Social Work, participated in the program in summer 2024. “I think external accountability is always super helpful for faculty, and the structure that’s been created here in the program is fabulous for really making sure that we get the work done that we’re trying to do.”  

Through a new Dissertation Completion Program , the center provides space and structure for doctoral students to complete their dissertation projects among a   community of scholars. A Grant Writing Residency Program helps scholars advance their research projects through dedicated time to apply for and secure external funding.  A new Summer Fellowship for Qualitative Research provides support to faculty and scientific staff developing qualitative research projects, including ethnography, historical and archival research, content analysis, case studies, action research, and mixed-method designs. 

The center will also host research incubation workshops on topics such as the process of developing research questions, manuscript writing, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Survey Data Collection, Methodology, and Grant Services

As a part of its mission to serve the needs of campus, the center will continue to provide a full suite of research services . This includes survey and multimethodology research services and free workshops, grant development support , and for the first time, an in-house IRB liaison to help researchers navigate the complex regulatory environment.

“Our team is excited support clients on campus and beyond with a variety of high-quality services that include survey data collection and focus group moderation,” said Cassidy Branch, interim manager of research services. “We’re particularly looking forward to rolling out new data collection initiatives, one of which will offer faculty, research staff, and students access to a nationally representative survey panel on a recurring basis.”

A team led by Kristopher Ackerson, grant development manager, is available to review and edit grant proposals, provide budget management, host grant writing groups, and coordinate the submission of proposals with other institutional offices such as the Division of Sponsored Programs.

A fourth priority of CSSI is to communicate and disseminate the practical knowledge of social science research to the wider community which will be accomplished through a variety of mechanisms, including research symposiums, regular newsletters, collaborative connections to peer universities and outreach events.  “These resources are strategically designed to cultivate a vibrant community for social scientists at the University of Iowa,” said Berg.

For more information about the Center for Social Science Innovation’s programs, visit their new website, cssi.research.uiowa.edu and sign up for their newsletter . The center reports to the Office of the Vice President for Research.

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Mentorship in health research institutions in Africa: A systematic review of approaches, benefits, successes, gaps and challenges

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

* E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]

Affiliation African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Affiliations African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Ondo Estate, Nigeria

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Roles Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Resources

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Writing – review & editing

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing

Roles Funding acquisition, Project administration

• Maurine Ng’oda, 
• Peter Muriuki Gatheru, 
• Oyetunde Oyeyemi, 
• Phylis Busienei, 
• Caroline H. Karugu, 
• Sharon Mugo, 
• Lilian Okoth, 
• Margaret Nampijja, 
• Sylvia Kiwuwa-Muyingo, 

• Published: September 23, 2024
• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314
• Peer Review
• Reader Comments

In Africa, where the burden of diseases is disproportionately high, significant challenges arise from a shortage of skilled researchers, lack of research funding, and limited mentorship opportunities. The continent faces a substantial gap in research output largely attributed to the dearth of mentorship opportunities for early career researchers.

To explore existing mentorship approaches, identify challenges, gaps, successes, and benefits, and provide insights for strengthening mentorship programs in African health research institutions.

We registered the review protocol on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews [CRD42021285018] and searched six electronic databases–EMBASE, AJOL, Web of Science, PubMed, DOAJ, and JSTOR from inception to 10 November 2023, for studies published in English reporting on approaches of mentorship in health research in African countries. We also searched grey literature repositories, institutional websites, and reference lists of included studies for additional literature. Two independent reviewers conducted screening of titles and abstracts of identified studies, full-text screening, assessment of methodological quality, and data extraction. We assessed study quality against the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). We resolved any disagreements through discussion and consensus. We employed a narrative approach to synthesize the findings.

We retrieved 1799 articles and after screening, included 21 studies in the review. The reviewers identified 20 mentorship programs for health researchers (N = 1198) in 12 African countries mostly focusing on early-career researchers and junior faculty members. A few included mid-career and senior researchers.

We categorized the programs under three key mentoring approaches: international collaborative programs, regional and in-country collaborations, and specialized capacity-building initiatives. Our review highlighted the following successes and benefits of health research mentorship programs: the establishment of collaborations and partnerships, development of research programs and capacities, improvement of individual skills and confidence, increased publications, and successful grant applications. The gaps identified were limited funding, lack of a mentorship culture, negative attitudes towards research careers, and lack of prioritization of research mentorship.

Our review highlights a diverse landscape of health research mentorship aspects predominantly targeting early career researchers and heavily driven by the North. There is a need for locally driven mentorship initiatives in Africa to strengthen mentorship to advance health research in the region.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021285018 .

Citation: Ng’oda M, Gatheru PM, Oyeyemi O, Busienei P, Karugu CH, Mugo S, et al. (2024) Mentorship in health research institutions in Africa: A systematic review of approaches, benefits, successes, gaps and challenges. PLOS Glob Public Health 4(9): e0003314. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314

Editor: Janet Seeley, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

Received: May 23, 2024; Accepted: August 26, 2024; Published: September 23, 2024

Copyright: © 2024 Ng’oda et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: Data underlying the findings for this review has been provided as part of the submitted article in the supplementary information .

Funding: This work was supported by the African Research Excellent Fund (AREF to EG). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exist.

Introduction

There exists a significant gap in research output in sub-Saharan Africa where the burden of disease is disproportionately high [ 1 ]. The current state of health science research, funding, and research capacity in the continent falls short of addressing the existing and unmet health research needs [ 2 ]. Some of the contributing factors to this challenge are the scarcity of well-trained and skilled researchers and the lack of opportunities for hands-on research experience with research specialists, leading to inadequate supervision and limited mentorship opportunities for early career researchers [ 3 ].

Mentorship is defined in simple terms as a relationship where someone experienced, in this context researcher, guides and supports another person to help them learn and grow professionally [ 4 ]. There are two common approaches to mentorship. The first approach is the traditional one-on-one mentoring model [ 5 ]. In this paradigm, an experienced researcher, often with a distinguished record of accomplishment, provides guidance and support to a less experienced mentee. This close, personalized interaction facilitates in-depth discussions, transfer of skills, and the cultivation of a strong mentor-mentee relationship [ 6 ]. Through this approach, the mentor can offer valuable insights, share experiences, and assist the mentee in navigating the complexities of the research landscape. The one-on-one model is particularly effective for tailoring mentorship to the unique needs and goals of the mentee, fostering a deep sense of individualized support and professional development [ 5 ].

The second common approach to mentorship in research involves group or team-based mentoring [ 7 ]. In this collaborative model, a mentor oversees a cohort of mentees who work together on related research projects or within a shared research theme. This approach promotes a sense of community and encourages peer learning among mentees.

Group mentoring can be especially beneficial in fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, providing diverse perspectives, and creating a supportive network for mentees [ 6 ]. It also allows the mentor’s expertise to be leveraged across multiple individuals simultaneously [ 8 ]. The group dynamic enhances social learning, as mentees not only benefit from the mentor’s guidance but also from the collective knowledge and experiences of their peers. Group mentorship is adaptable to various research settings and can effectively address the evolving needs of mentees in collaborative research environments [ 7 ].

Recognizing mentorship as a vital strategy for personal and professional growth [ 9 , 10 ], there is a growing awareness of its importance in enhancing the capacities of individuals, including researchers [ 11 ]. However, mentorship practices are not widespread in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) [ 12 ], and available evidence on existing approaches demonstrates mixed results regarding effectiveness, often failing to account for the unique challenges and structures present in the research systems. The dearth of a well-established culture of mentorship, the absence of formal policies, and the inadequacy of structured tools for assessing mentorship further compound the challenges faced in fostering effective mentorship programs in LMICs [ 13 ].

The systematic review aimed to inform the development of optimized mentorship programs that address the specific needs and challenges faced by health researchers in Africa. We sought to synthesize evidence on various mentorship approaches prevalent in the region to provide a more comprehensive understanding of mentorship in health research institutions in Africa. We explored the nature and effectiveness of mentorship initiatives in African research institutions to identify both successes and challenges encountered in implementing these programs, pinpoint existing gaps in mentorship practices, and provide valuable insights.

The mentorship was considered effective if it resulted in early and mid-level career researchers taking up leadership roles and positions in research and academia, fostering a collaborative research environment, contributing to research outputs such as publications, and strengthening the skills of early and mid-level career researchers.

Protocol registration

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (2020) as shown in supplementary document ( S1 Checklist ). We registered the protocol for this review with the PROSPERO under the registration number CRD42021285018.

Information sources and search

We identified relevant studies by searching various databases such as EMBASE, AJOL, Web of Science, DOAJ, PubMed, and JSTOR from their inception up to 10 th November 2023. Additionally, we conducted searches on open grey literature repositories and specific institutional websites to identify any other relevant studies. We also conducted a manual search of reference lists of identified studies for any additional findings. A list of relevant search terms and keywords was prepared. The search terms were used in the following combinations: (“Practices”) AND (“Success” OR “Benefits” OR “Advantages”) AND (“Gaps” OR “Challenges”) AND (“mentor” OR “mentorship” OR “mentoring” OR “mentoring relationship” OR “onsite training” OR “vertical mentorship” OR “on-the-job training” OR “OJT” OR “capacity building” OR “capacity strengthening” OR “mentee” OR “mentoring program” OR “mentoring models” OR “career coaching” OR “career counselling” OR “career support” OR “mentorship advice”) AND (“research institutions” OR “research program” OR “researchers” OR “research organizations”) AND (“Africa” OR “African” OR “sub-Saharan Africa” OR “Africa South of the Sahara” OR “East Africa” OR “West Africa” OR “Southern Africa” OR “Central Africa” OR “Northern Africa”). To ensure that we retrieved articles from each country, we substituted the names of the study setting with the country-specific names. For example, to retrieve articles from East Africa, we replaced "East Africa" with Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. The detailed search strategy is described in the supplementary documents ( S1 Table ).

Study selection and eligibility criteria

Teams of two reviewers from MN, PMG, OO, SM, CHK, SM, LO, MNa, SKM, YDW, and PKW independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts of the selected studies. Any disagreements between the two reviewers were addressed through discussion and consensus, or by consulting a senior reviewer (GA). The scope of our search was limited to studies published in the English language. We used the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) design as a framework to formulate eligibility criteria. The PICOS elements comprised; i) participants–researchers at any career level, serving as mentors or mentees; ii) interventions–diverse mentoring programs of varied types, durations, and regularities; iii) comparisons–all mentorship programs were considered, regardless of the presence of a comparison group; iv) outcomes–studies reporting on mentorship approaches, benefits, successes, gaps, and challenges were included in the review; v) settings–African academic and/or research institutions. Articles focusing on non-human health research were not eligible. We also excluded systematic reviews, conference abstracts, commentaries, and opinion pieces.

Data collection process

Four reviewers (MN, PMG, OO, PB) independently extracted data from the selected studies using a Microsoft Excel extraction form. Key variables extracted were study author and date, country, study design, characteristics of the study population, sample size, intervention, mode of delivery, and outcome measures, including challenges, gaps, benefits, and successes. Discrepancies during the extraction process were resolved through discussion and consensus building.

Assessment of methodological quality

Two reviewers (MN and PM) independently evaluated the quality of the included studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) [ 14 ], which enables the concurrent assessment of various empirical study types. The MMAT encompasses two general screening questions applicable to all study types and specific sets of five questions for each of the five study types: qualitative, quantitative randomized controlled trials, quantitative non-randomized, quantitative descriptive, and mixed methods design. Both reviewers utilized the MMAT criteria to assess key methodological components, including sampling, data collection, response bias, outcome measurements, and data analysis/reporting, providing a comprehensive evaluation of each study’s overall quality. Disagreements were resolved through discussion and consensus. Ratings were assigned based on the proportion of fulfilled quality criteria, with studies classified as low risk (≥75%), moderate risk (25–75%), or high risk (<25%). The included articles were categorised as qualitative, quantitative (observational), and mixed methods studies.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome of this review was the mentorship approach including the mode and period of delivery. Secondary outcomes included successes, benefits, gaps, and challenges associated with the mentorship interventions.

Synthesis of evidence

We employed a narrative synthesis approach to interpret findings from the included studies. For this reason, publication bias and heterogeneity in study designs, interventions, and outcomes were not considered. A comprehensive exploration of the outcomes of interest within the literature was achieved through a narrative synthesis. The synthesis involved summarizing the characteristics of included studies, such as study design, population, interventions, and key outcomes. We then categorized findings based on themes, similarities, and differences, providing a nuanced understanding of the evidence. The narrative synthesis was guided by the PRISMA guidelines.

Search output

The initial search yielded 1623 articles from six databases. We identified an additional 176 articles through searches on open grey and specific institutional websites, resulting in 1799 retrieved articles. After removing 423 duplicates, we screened 1376 titles and abstracts, leading to the preliminary selection of 303 articles for full-text review. Ultimately, 21 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review as shown in Fig 1 in the supplementary documents.

• PPT PowerPoint slide
• PNG larger image
• TIFF original image

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.g001

Study characteristics

All the 21 studies included in the review were observational studies published between 2013 and 2023. The studies were from 12 different African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, Ghana, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho. The primary studies used diverse methods which included qualitative designs (10 studies; 48%) [ 15 – 24 ], quantitative designs (9 studies; 43%) [ 25 – 33 ], and mixed methods (2 studies; (9%) [ 32 , 33 ].

Characteristics of participants

The review included a diverse cohort of early-career, mid-career, and senior researchers (N = 1198) from various institutions. The participants were recruited from universities [ 13 , 14 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 32 ], health research institutions [ 15 – 17 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 28 ], public health teaching institutions [ 33 ], and hospitals [ 35 ]. Notably, their work focus spanned a range of fields, including HIV/AIDS rsearch, mental health, sanitation and hygiene, family health, biomedical sciences, biostatistics, health system and policy, and public health. The inclusion of mid- or senior-level faculty researchers, doctoral fellows, statisticians, and undergraduate students contributed to a well-rounded participant pool. This diversity not only enriches the study’s findings but also underscores the broad relevance and applicability of research mentorship across multiple disciplines within the health sciences. The detailed characteristics of the individual studies included in the review can be found in supplementary information ( S2 Table ).

Methodological quality of individual studies

Ten qualitative studies, nine quantitative studies, and two mixed-methods studies were assessed for methodological quality. We rated eight studies as low risk and 13 studies as moderate risk. Detailed information on the risk rating for each study can be found in supplementary information ( S3 Table ).

Approaches of research mentorship

We identified three key approaches from the included studies that have been used for mentoring health researchers in Africa. Broadly, we have categorized these into international collaborative programs [ 14 – 16 , 19 , 24 , 33 ], regional and in-country collaborations [ 17 , 18 , 20 , 23 , 31 ], and specialized capacity-building programs [ 21 , 22 , 25 – 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 ].

International collaborative programs.

International collaboration emerged as a central theme in the findings as one of the approaches used in health research mentorship, demonstrating a concerted effort to foster exchanges through cross-cultural training programs global symposia and workshops, resources sharing through north-south and south-south collaborations, and building global community of researchers through multinational research hubs, global networks, and infrastructure development. These collaborative initiatives aimed to transcend geographical boundaries, leverage diverse expertise, and collectively address health research challenges to achieve sustainable and impactful outcomes.

The ARCADE project [ 20 ] and the 5-year multinational collaboration across five African countries, the USA, and the UK highlight both north-south and south-south collaborations [ 34 ]. These initiatives brought together researchers from different continents, acknowledging the importance of shared expertise and resources. The collaborative capacity strengthening initiative at the University of Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa [ 16 ], involving international symposia and workshops provided platforms for researchers to come together, share insights, and engage in collaborative learning. The exchange of ideas fosters a global perspective on research challenges, methodologies, and solutions. The AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) [ 15 ] and the collaborative capacity strengthening initiative involving the UWC in South Africa [ 16 ] exemplify cross-cultural training programs.

Regional and in-country collaborations.

In-country and regional collaborations are also prominently highlighted as an avenue to mentorship, reflecting the recognition of the importance of strengthening research capacity at the local and regional levels. This theme involves partnerships and initiatives that focus on collaboration within a specific country or region. For instance, the Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance (NISA) [ 19 ], an initiative that involves collaboration among partners within Nigeria and the sub-Saharan African region focuses on local research capacity strengthening. The program aims to facilitate collaboration, enhance implementation research, and identify culturally appropriate strategies to improve public health through research.

The Transforming Health Professions Education in Tanzania (THET) project [ 32 ] included a component where young peers received mentorship from senior researchers through mentored research awards and research training. These peers, in turn, provided reciprocal peer-to-peer mentorship to undergraduate students.

This approach emphasizes the importance of building mentorship networks within the country, creating a sustainable model for capacity strengthening. In a separate example, a series of two-day intensive regional mentorship workshops were conducted over four years to train mid- and senior-level investigators engaged in public health, clinical, and basic science research across multiple academic institutions in LMICs [ 21 ]. These workshops focused on developing mentorship skills locally and regionally, recognizing the value of nurturing research talent within specific geographic contexts. The African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) [ 23 ] recruits and trains research fellows at Master’s, PhD, and post-doc levels within the African region. The initiative aims to equip these fellows with research, teaching, and leadership skills to build a viable and sustainable research network.

Specialized capacity-building programs.

This approach recognizes the importance of tailoring mentorship initiatives to the unique needs and challenges faced by researchers in Africa and involves targeted initiatives designed to enhance specific skills and competencies related to health research. For example, the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) program [ 26 ], delivered through PhD training fellowships is a specialized training that focuses on creating a network of locally trained but globally recognized African scholars. CARTA recognizes the importance of advancing research capacity at the doctoral level locally, contributing to the development of a cadre of highly skilled researchers.

The Sanitation and Hygiene Applied Research for Equity (SHARE) program [ 28 ] incorporates specialized mentoring integrated into research, administration, financial management, and communication activities. This approach ensures that participants receive guidance and support in areas directly relevant to their research projects.

The Sexual Violence Research Initiative [ 18 ] provided intensive mentoring and technical advice specifically for the development or adaptation and conduct of preliminary proof of concept testing of violence against women and violence against children primary prevention interventions. This specialized training addressed the unique challenges associated with research on sensitive topics and provided targeted support for researchers in the field of sexual violence prevention. The Medical Education Partnership Initiative–Medical Education for Equitable Services for All Ugandans (MEPI-MESAU) program [ 29 ] goes beyond the traditional mentorship by providing infrastructure support including administrative support, paid tuition fees, tools, and skills training–on study design, biostatistics, manuscript and grant writing, to early career researchers.

Lastly, initiatives like AFFIRM, LATIN-MH, PAM-D, RedeAmericas, and SHARE, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), specifically targeted mental health research [ 24 ]. These hubs aimed to improve the research core for evidence-based mental health interventions, enhance research skills in global mental health, and provide capacity-building opportunities for early career investigators in LMICs. In Rwanda, the 6-week deliverable-driven survey analysis training program [ 27 ] aimed at strengthening the skills of local research leaders and statisticians. This hands-on training focused on a specific aspect of research (survey analysis) and was designed to achieve tangible outcomes within a defined period. S4 Table summarizes the approaches to mentorship in health research identified in the 21 studies included in this review.

In this section, we highlight the diverse successes derived from the health research mentorship programs implemented in 12 different African countries. We consolidate these successes into five crucial themes outlined herewith: establishment of partnerships and collaborations; development of research programs; individual capacity strengthening; development of research publications; and successful grant applications and awards.

Establishment of partnerships and collaborations.

Six studies mentioned the establishment of partnerships and collaborations as one of the successes of mentorship programs in health research institutions in Africa [ 15 , 19 , 24 , 25 , 28 , 29 ]. The successes related to this aspect included the establishment of mutually beneficial collaborations between investigators in different countries that were developed during training, which built a supportive research environment. There were also shared and mutually beneficial resources within international research collaborations, which supported early career investigators and served as a conduit to transfer health research training opportunities to researchers in African institutions [ 15 ]. Through mentorship programs, various organizations and government agencies were able to make definite commitments toward more investment in implementation research. For example, in Nigeria, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Population Council was able to launch the “Adolescent and Young People Challenge” pilot project. This project sought to fund innovative ideas led by youth to provide comprehensive HIV education to at least 200,000 Nigerians [ 19 ]. The mentorship programs also led to the establishment of sustainable partnerships between researchers in sub-Saharan African countries and other LMICs, as well as with institutions in the north.

These partnerships facilitated collaborative cutting-edge research in global mental health and provided a management strategy that builds partnerships between local and international partners for efficient coordination and timely achievement of set goals [ 25 ].

Development of research programs.

Thirteen studies reported the development of research programs as a key success of the respective mentorship programs. The different aspects achieved under this theme, as reported by the highlighted studies, were that early career investigators learned how to navigate the complex international research environment to build local research capacity [ 14 , 16 ] with trainees experiencing moderate increases in research confidence that were statistically significant, and an observed positive research culture being created [ 35 ]. In a study conducted in Uganda, the mentored PhD students were able to supervise and mentor 65 Master’s students, thus building local research capacity [ 28 ]. Participation in workshops provided knowledge of valuable concepts and a structure for the development and strengthening of formal mentoring programs across LMIC institutions, leading to the growth of institutional support, the establishment of several new institutional mentorship training programs, the initiation of peer mentorship networks, and regular mentor-mentee meetings. A qualitative study conducted in Kenya, Peru, India, and South Africa reported that the mentorship training model expanded as a national mandate for research training, nested within a required training program [ 21 ]. Hubs that evolved into centers of research excellence with a crop of dedicated researchers were also established [ 25 ].

Individual capacity strengthening.

Individual capacity strengthening was reported to increase as participants engaged in various training programs, workshops, and research activities.

For instance, in Zimbabwe, faculty members attended at least one of 15 faculty development workshops. Forty-one faculty members underwent a one-year advanced faculty development training in medical education and leadership, 33 mentored research scholars were trained under the novel NECTAR, and 52 and 12 in cardiovascular and mental health programs, respectively [ 34 ]. In Rwanda, three-quarters of the participants mentored others in survey data analysis or conducted an additional survey analysis in the year following the training. Similarly, 36% of participants completed an additional DHS analysis, 71% completed an additional survey analysis, and 79% provided mentorship to others about survey data analysis [ 27 ].

In addition, individual capacity strengthening was achieved as mentors enrolled in other courses or training. In Tanzania, most young peers had taken at least three research training short courses, and six had enrolled in PhD programs. The number of fellows increased from 12 to 24, and mentored graduates increased from 41 to 67 in the second cohort. Eight senior fellows enrolled in PhD programs, and 10 of 12 had registered for a PhD fellowship [ 31 – 33 ]. In Malawi, Uganda, and South Africa, the ARCADE project was successful in developing and delivering courses that reached over 920 postgraduate students [ 20 ]. In Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, the mentorship programs have achieved more success, including participants completing their courses for second master’s degrees with a special focus on specific health aspects, winning awards to support the further development of their research careers, and the appointment of one participant as a professor and another young researcher at a Health Institute [ 24 ].

Development of research publications.

The mentorship programs led to the development of new publications in various fields, as reported by nine studies. For instance, during the first two years of the program in Tanzania, various research articles from the mentored programs were published, with other manuscripts in the final stages of preparation. Each mentee had at least one or more manuscripts published or accepted for publication, and young peers shared authorship in at least one of the published articles [ 31 – 33 ]. Various publications were also done in other different mentorship programs across various countries, with authorship being from multi-institutional teams and submitted to international peer-reviewed scientific journals [ 23 , 24 , 26 – 28 ]. In South Africa, 70 interns contributed to 51 peer-reviewed articles [ 22 ], while in Uganda, 80 publications not related to PhD thesis work were co-authored by PhD students [ 29 ].

Successful grant applications and awards.

Five studies reported funding applications with some grants being awarded as a major success derived from the mentorship programs. A study done in Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa reported 21 grant applications being made successfully over the mentorship period [ 25 ]. Similarly, in Tanzania, young peers began to broaden their research careers by involvement in other ongoing research projects and grant applications [ 33 ], with a majority (n = 7/12) receiving research grants for their research program [ 32 ] and six small- to medium-sized research grants won [ 31 ]. Similarly, the mentorship programs led to the formation of a peer network of researchers that was deemed a pivot of success.

For instance, through the SHARE program, nine networks were created during phase II of the project, out of which six of the PhD students have pursued research that has led to independent grant funding, as well as collaborative grants on which they are listed as a co-investigators [ 29 ]. The mentorship programs also led to awards. For instance, two travel fellowship grants for early career researchers to attend the 2016 and 2017 World Psychiatric Association International Congress were won. Grants to attend conferences to share findings for completed dissertation projects were won, enabling participants to interact with other external partners and build sustainable collaborations [ 24 ].

This review reveals benefits that extend beyond the individual participants. We summarize these benefits under three pivotal themes: capacity building and skill development; networking and collaboration; and career advancement and marketability.

Capacity building and skill development.

The mentorship programs led to significant skill development and capacity building among participants [ 26 , 32 ]. This was evident through diverse training in research methodologies, epidemiology, biostatistics, grant writing, and other crucial aspects [ 33 ]. The acquisition of these skills not only enhanced the participants’ ability to conduct high-quality research [ 28 , 33 ] but also made them valuable contributors to national and international projects [ 17 ]. The establishment of training centers and departments further institutionalised these skills, fostering a culture of continuous learning and research excellence [ 26 , 28 ].

Networking and collaboration.

The initiatives for research mentorship played a crucial role in fostering strong collaborations among institutions and researchers [ 20 ]. These collaborations were instrumental in the success of various projects and contributed to the publication of research papers [ 24 , 28 ]. The projects served as a platform for early career and mid-level researchers to take leadership roles in published papers [ 25 ], demonstrating the effectiveness of mentorship in fostering a collaborative research environment. In addition, the North-South and regional collaboration programs exposed participants to international perspectives thus encouraging the integration of local and global knowledge [ 16 , 33 ].

Career advancement and marketability.

There was a positive impact of the mentorship programs on the career trajectories of participants [ 28 , 32 , 33 ]. Interns who engaged in significant research projects became more marketable as research practitioners [ 22 ]. The experience gained and the demonstrated completeness of their work opened doors to attractive positions in academia [ 32 , 33 ], government, and other sectors [ 22 ]. Additionally, the model of mentorship proved effective in strengthening skills among full-time working professionals [ 27 ], allowing them to enhance their capabilities without disrupting ongoing work commitments. This contributed to the overall growth of faculty [ 34 ], increased student enrolment [ 33 ], and the establishment of new research support centers [ 34 ].

Challenges and gaps

The reviewed studies identified limited funding and the absence of a robust mentorship culture as significant barriers to research advancement.

Negative perceptions of research as a career path and the lack of emphasis on mentorship in research further exacerbated the reported obstacles. The challenges were compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted research operations and constrained available resources. These factors are discussed in detail in the following section.

Limited funding.

Six studies [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 23 , 25 , 32 ] reported on the challenges of funding for health research mentorship programs. Limited funding encompassed the failure of health researchers to access funding to support research, the inability of early career researchers to access independent research funding without external collaborators, and the inability to secure long-term funding for meaningful capacity strengthening. Limited funding was also reported to include a lack of support for degree programs, post-doctoral training, and research [ 14 , 25 ]. A mismatch between the availability of short-term funds for specific research initiatives and requirements for longer-term investment in capacity building was reported as a gap [ 16 ]. Lastly, in instances where funding is available, the funders often drive the focus of mentorship programs, and the lack of southern ownership was identified as a gap [ 16 ].

Lack of a healthy mentorship culture.

In seven studies, [ 15 , 20 – 23 , 25 , 27 ], the lack of understanding of the concept of mentorship leading to a lack of institutional mentoring culture was highlighted as a challenge. Sustaining mentorship and institutional support for mentorship, and failure by institutions to acknowledge or ‘give credit’ for mentoring activities in the merit or promotional processes are notable challenges in health research mentorship.

Of particular concern in many of the mentorship programs was a general lack of time management strategies to balance mentoring with other competing activities including academic pursuits, teaching duties, and burdensome administrative roles. Related to the lack of a mentorship culture were limited mentoring skills, and a lack of motivation, or zeal on the part of both mentors and mentees. Mentors reported that getting mentees to understand their roles and commit to achieving the set goals was a burdensome challenge [ 16 ]. Mentorship was also reported to place a heavy demand on senior researchers’ time [ 21 ], which is already committed to urgent needs such as obtaining donor funds, reporting to donors, managing projects, networking, and publishing–all attached to a researcher’s performance appraisal. This in turn led to increasing levels of stress among mentors and very little time left to focus on mentees who needed significant guidance and support [ 28 ].

For mentees, different sets of administrative regulations across institutions were reported to lead to complications and delays in starting or sustaining certain capacity-building activities. Mentees reported difficulties in balancing work burdens, as they were involved in research activities as well as the training and support for their institutions and their development. This lack of protected time for health research mentorship was also cited as a gap by one study [ 33 ]. Lack of infrastructure support that enables high-quality research including grants administration, mentorship, research leadership, research culture, and open communication between policymakers and researchers as well as difficulties in accessing a PhD supervisor were other challenges faced by mentees [ 20 – 23 ]. Several other gaps were also identified including the lack of recognition of mentorship as a key success factor for early career researchers [ 21 ], the absence of a formal mentorship structure [ 21 , 26 ], and the lack of clarity in expectations of a mentor-mentee relationship [ 21 ].

Negative attitudes towards research as a career.

Research, as a career, was not a very attractive proposition in many Southern contexts according to some studies [ 16 – 19 ]. Researchers being drawn by incentives to ‘consultancy not research’ complicated this. Research was also viewed as inaccessible, especially to young people and outside academic settings. Lack of research interest was cited as a gap in three studies [ 14 , 15 , 22 ], with institutions such as universities or health departments prioritizing teaching rather than focusing on research careers [ 18 , 29 ].

Lack of prioritisation of research mentorship.

The low priority given to research mentorship by funders and governments was recognized in studies conducted in South Africa, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and Nigeria [ 21 , 24 ], and weak collaborations between different stakeholders and countries involved in mentorship may have contributed to this [ 16 ]. The absence of a national research strategy [ 16 ] was also identified as a gap in research mentorship programs in various African countries.

COVID-19 related factors.

Challenges related to the emergence of COVID-19 were reported in two studies [ 31 , 32 ] and included halting physical meetings between mentors and mentees because of the global restriction of face-to-face meetings. Other COVID-19-related challenges included the suspension of research activities such as enrolment of participants, procuring of laboratory reagents, delays in data collection, hiking of prices, and delays in delivery of procured research materials [ 32 ]. Internet connectivity challenges leading to suboptimal quality of video conferences were also highlighted as challenges [ 33 ].

In this review, we identified 20 mentorship programs involving a diverse group of African health researchers across 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Only two of these were initiated in Africa and funded from local sources. While most African researchers have benefited from North-South collaboration, there is an opportunity to develop local mentorship programs to reduce the overreliance on foreign-funded and foreign-driven programs. Foreign-initiated and driven programs can be beneficial to building local health research capacity; however, local programs are often more accessible and sustainable, given their understanding of the local, context, infrastructure, and resources [ 30 ]. Such programs can foster a stronger sense of community and collaboration, contributing to long-term impact. Locally led initiatives also empower African mentors to play leadership roles, reinforcing a sense of ownership and self-determination in shaping the future of their communities [ 26 ]. Overall, locally initiated mentorship programs are better positioned to address the nuanced localized needs of mentees, promoting a more inclusive and impactful approach to personal and professional development. This finding is similar to those reported in earlier studies [ 36 ] that most health research mentorship initiatives in LMICs were introduced and funded by high-income countries and were not institutionalized as yet. Nevertheless, even though few, Africa-led, Africa-centered, and Africa-specific initiatives such as the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Africa (AESA) and the Coalition for Research and Innovation (CARI) are platforms that can provide support for training African researchers and opportunities for collaboration [ 1 ].

Our review highlights mentorship benefits that extend beyond the individual level to institutional, country, regional, and international arenas. Capacity building and skills development, networking and collaboration, and career development and marketability were highlighted in the reviewed studies.

Not only were individuals participating in mentorship programs upskilled in various aspects such as research methodologies, epidemiology, biostatistics, and grant writing among other skills, but mentorship enabled individuals to contribute to national and international projects. Enhancing individual capacities enables local researchers and junior faculty to navigate the complex international research environment and transfer health research training to African institutions. Even though most mentorship initiatives are North-initiated and driven, the programs expose participants to international perspectives that contribute to the integration of local and international knowledge. Additionally, participants are also enabled to develop their research niches within academia, government, and the private sector.

We further establish that the main hindrance to the development of health research capacity including mentorship programs is limited local funding. Current funding for health research and research capacity development remains inadequate to address Africa’s unmet health needs. This calls for African countries to develop clear and context-informed strategies and mechanisms to foster both private and public investment in health research capacity development. Furthermore, African countries can leverage international programs that can be institutionalized and tailored to respond to local needs for health research capacity development. Consistent with our findings, limited local health research capacity development funding has also been previously highlighted by other researchers as a major challenge to capacity development [ 1 , 14 , 35 ].

Additionally, the lack of a healthy mentorship culture in most African health research institutions mostly arising from a lack of understanding of the concept and importance of mentorship in research capacity development was a substantial gap. Efforts are needed to ensure that mentorship is appreciated and given credit during merit and promotion activities.

This will ensure that mentorship is prioritized alongside other core research capacity activities such as teaching, administrative roles, applying for grants, managing projects, reporting to donors, and networking. Coupled with mentorship prioritization, capacity development in mentorship skills, and arousing interest to engage in mentorship would also contribute to mentorship being treated as an important part of health research capacity development.

Lastly, for mentorship to be viewed as a key success factor for early career researchers and junior faculty, institutions must address unfavorable administrative regulations, and lack of protected time along the mentorship continuum for both mentors and mentees. Additionally, deliberate efforts to establish formal mentorship structures, provide clarity in expectations of a mentor-mentee relationship, and prioritize mentorship on the part of funders, governments, and institutions will go a long way in institutionalizing health research mentorship in Africa.

Our review revealed three main approaches to mentorship in Africa: international collaborative programs, regional and in-country collaborations, and specialized capacity-building programs. The successes of these programs were diverse and included the establishment of partnerships, the development of research programs, individual capacity strengthening, increased publication outputs, and successful grant applications and awards. These programs not only benefited individual participants but also contributed to broader capacity building, skill development, networking, collaboration, and career advancement at institutional, country, regional, and international levels.

However, several challenges and gaps were identified, such as limited funding, a lack of a healthy mentorship culture, negative attitudes toward research as a career, lack of prioritization of research mentorship, and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The review emphasizes the critical need for increased local funding for health research mentorship programs, the establishment of a robust mentorship culture, and addressing challenges related to administrative regulations, protected time, and mentorship skills. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of developing locally initiated mentorship programs to reduce reliance on foreign-funded initiatives. Researchers should make efforts to establish local and regional collaborative partnerships. While international collaborations are valuable, locally-led programs can be more accessible, sustainable, and tailored to address nuanced local needs, fostering a stronger sense of community and collaboration.

In addressing the identified challenges and building on the successes, African countries must develop clear and context-informed strategies for both public and private investment in health research capacity development. Additionally, efforts are needed to promote mentorship appreciation in merit and promotion activities, develop mentorship skills, and institutionalize mentorship structures. Only through these comprehensive efforts can health research mentorship be prioritized and effectively contribute to the sustainable development of research capacity in Africa.

Limitations of the study

While this systematic review provides important insights into mentorship programs for health researchers in African institutions, it is crucial to recognize certain inherent limitations in the study design and execution. The review’s focus on studies published exclusively in English introduces a potential language bias, as pertinent research in other languages might have been overlooked, potentially impacting the thoroughness of the findings. Additionally, despite efforts to include diverse African regions, the search strategy may exhibit biases toward specific countries or regions, stemming from variations in research visibility and accessibility. This potential bias could constrain the generalizability of the findings across the entire African continent. To mitigate these limitations, multiple databases were consulted, and searches were conducted using a variety of relevant keywords and MeSH terms to retrieve as many articles as possible and to ensure a comprehensive coverage of mentorship programs across different African contexts. Additionally, we did not synthesize data regarding the most successful mentorship approaches in terms of the outputs so this topic should be explored in future reviews. Lastly, the heterogeneity of mentorship programs, characterized by variations in types, durations, and regularities, poses challenges in comparing and synthesizing outcomes. To address this challenge, we systematically categorized and classified mentorship programs based on predefined criteria, allowing for a structured synthesis of findings. Despite these limitations, the systematic approach, adherence to PRISMA guidelines, and comprehensive exploration of mentorship outcomes enhance the credibility of the findings derived from this review. Nevertheless, researchers and policymakers should approach the interpretation of the results with an awareness of these limitations and endeavour to conduct further research addressing identified gaps and challenges in mentorship programs for health researchers in Africa.

Supporting information

S1 checklist. prisma 2020 checklist..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s001

S1 Table. Search stratey.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s002

S2 Table. Characteristics of studies included in the review.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s003

S3 Table. Risk of bias assessment.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s004

S4 Table. Mentorship approaches.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s005

S5 Table. List f abbreviations.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s006

S6 Table. Studies retrieved.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s007

S7 Table. Data extracted.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003314.s008

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