Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jun 24:13:238.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.144883.2. eCollection 2024.

How an international research programme can contribute to improvements in the research environment: the perspective of doctoral students in sub-Saharan Africa

Taghreed El Hajj  1 , Neele Wiltgen Georgi  1 , Susie Crossman  1 , Nadia Tagoe  2 , Imelda Bates  1
Affiliations

How an international research programme can contribute to improvements in the research environment: the perspective of doctoral students in sub-Saharan Africa

Taghreed El Hajj et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Background: The Africa Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI) programme aimed to 'strengthen the research and training capacity of higher education institutions and support the development of individual scientists in sub-Saharan Africa through UK-Africa research collaborations' including by funding PhD studentships. We conducted research to understand students' experiences and to see how consortia-based programmes such as ACBI and their own institutions can enhance PhD students' research environment and progress.

Methods: In-depth interviews with 35 ACBI-funded PhD students explored their perspectives about how their research and personal development benefitted from belonging to a research consortium. Questionnaires were used to corroborate interview findings.

Results: Students recognised that membership of a research consortium provided many benefits compared to less well-resourced peers. By drawing on the programme and consortiums' resources, they were often able to overcome some limitations in their own institution's systems and facilities. Through their consortia they could access a wide range of international expertise and support from mentors and colleagues for their technical and psychosocial needs. Multiple consortia opportunities for engaging with the international scientific community and for networking, gave them confidence and motivation and enhanced their career prospects.

Conclusion: Our study and its recommendations highlight how the breadth and diversity of resources available to PhD students through research consortia can be harnessed to facilitate students' progress and to create a supportive and conducive research environment. It also underlines how, through a multi-level approach, consortia can contribute to longer-term improvements in institutional research environments for PhD students.

Keywords: PhD programmes; Research capacity strengthening; natural sciences research; research environment; research institutions; sub-Saharan Africa.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

No competing interests were disclosed.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Adedokun B, Nyasulu P, Maseko F, et al. : Sharing perspectives and experiences of doctoral fellows in the first cohort of Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa: 2011–2014. Glob. Health Action. 2014;7:25127. 10.3402/gha.v7.25127 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ali F, Shet A, Yan W, et al. : Doctoral level research and training capacity in the social determinants of health at universities and higher education institutions in India, China, Oman and Vietnam: a survey of needs. Health Res. Policy Syst. 2017;15(1):76. 10.1186/s12961-017-0225-5 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bates I, Boyd A, Smith H, et al. : A practical and systematic approach to organisational capacity strengthening for research in the health sector in Africa. Health Res. Policy Syst. 2014;12:11. 10.1186/1478-4505-12-11 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Centre for Capacity Research: Extended Data - How research consortia can contribute to improvements in PhD students’ research environment and progress in sub-Saharan African countries. Harvard Dataverse. 2024;V1. 10.7910/DVN/DRKNED - DOI
    1. Colenbrander S, Lovett J, Abbo MS, et al. : Renewable energy doctoral programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: A preliminary assessment of common capacity deficits and emerging capacity-building strategies. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 2015;5:70–77. 10.1016/j.erss.2014.12.010 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources