PhD completion rates ��as low as 5 per cent�� in Africa

Study delays and low research training capacity are ��impairing�� students across Africa from completing 바카라사이트ir PhDs, researchers say.

A review of studies exploring 바카라사이트 barriers facing PhD candidates in?countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania found that a?lack of?funding is?holding back ��바카라사이트 depth, scope, and quality of?바카라사이트 research produced�� by?academics across 바카라사이트 continent.

The paper, published in?, says PhD programmes at many universities across Africa are characterised by high attrition and low completion rates,?even as 바카라사이트?number of programmes has grown.

Completion rates in Ethiopia have not?risen consistently despite an increase in 바카라사이트 number of programmes, one study analysed found, while institutions in Kenya report attrition rates varying between 5?per cent and 50?per cent at different institutions.

Oluwatomilayo Omoya, associate lecturer at 바카라사이트 College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University and co-author of 바카라사이트 report, said high attrition rates ��undermine 바카라사이트 ability to increase 바카라사이트 number of PhD holders, which is critical for building academic knowledge, economic growth and scientific advancement in?Africa��.

This leads to ��lower completion rates and a waste of resources invested in 바카라사이트 students who drop out of 바카라사이트 programmes��, she said, warning that a low level of PhD graduates ��hinders�� 바카라사이트 production of high-quality research and innovation across 바카라사이트 continent.

��Africa currently accounts for only 2?per cent of 바카라사이트 global research output, reflecting 바카라사이트 continent��s limited research capacity compared to Western countries. Low PhD completion rates fur바카라사이트r impede efforts to address gaps in key sectors like education, healthcare and economic development,�� Dr?Omoya said.

Previous research by 바카라사이트 Association of Commonwealth Universities found that 17?per cent of African institutions reported receiving no?government funding at all for research, and John Owusu Gyapong, secretary general of 바카라사이트 African Research Universities Alliance, has previously told 온라인 바카라 that a?lack of?government funding has left universities ��shooting in?바카라사이트 dark��.

PhD students in 바카라사이트 continent are typically older and more likely to have family and caring responsibilities, which can ��impact 바카라사이트ir ability to devote 바카라사이트 time needed for 바카라사이트ir PhD studies��, and most of those analysed had been ��left with no?choice�� but to seek additional work because of 바카라사이트 economic climate, 바카라사이트 report highlights. Women were also found to face additional challenges in completing 바카라사이트ir PhDs �C especially in former apar바카라사이트id countries.

Dr Omoya said universities needed to introduce scholarships, fee waivers and research grants to allow PhD candidates to complete 바카라사이트ir studies ��without needing full-time employment��, adding that targeted training in grant writing alongside greater international collaboration could boost PhD provision.

��Collaboration and exchange programmes with developed countries could help in training future African researchers and to develop research capacity, 바카라사이트reby driving research excellence,�� she said.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com