KIU, MAIN CAMPUS - The Directorate of Higher Degrees and Research (DHDR) in collaboration with the Directorate of Research Innovation, Consultancy, and Extension (DRICE) organised an all-academic staff and postgraduate students’ two-day interactive session at the IBM Library 5th Floor. 

The engaging workshop was aimed at training academic staff and postgraduate students on topics like research methods, theories, mentorship, and article writing.  

Kick starting the workshop, Prof. Regina Ejemot Nwadiano, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research Innovation, Consultancy, and Extension (RICE) welcomed everyone and saluted the staff and students for their commitment to nurturing academic excellence and seeking knowledge respectively. 

“At Kampala International University (KIU), we recognise that research is the backbone of academic excellence. Therefore, this workshop is designed to equip academic staff and post graduate students with research skills,” she said. 

Spearheading the engaging two-day sessions, top African scholars Dr. Kehbuma Langmia a university professor at Howard University and Prof. Victor N. Gomia also a professor at Delaware State University shared insights on ‘Pitfalls and Strategies for Success’ and ‘Mentorship in Academia’ respectively. 

Dr. Langmia, who has published 20 books to date, advised the staff and students to prioritize publishing, emphasizing that "if you do not publish, you perish." He noted that to publish, one must make research a passion and reading a mantra.

He also identified that Africa has not prioritised research hence has not invested in it, which needs to change. 

“I have come to encourage you my brother and sisters to publish such that your name is on the geographical map. Discipline yourselves and write a page or two on weekends, vacations and holidays,” he said, adding “If you write and submit your research or paper to a journal and it is rejected, do not give up. Make the corrections and keep trying and submit in another journal”.  

Regarding theories tested in research, Dr. Langmia advised participants to also use African theories. “We use European theories of the 1990s in 2025. Why? Look at up-to-date theories and African theories and test them in your research,” he said, adding that for research aimed to solve African problems, there is need to consider problem solving topics. 

In a question-answer session with Dr. Langmia, participants posed questions on how to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research writing and how to improve the impact of KIU journals. 

In response, Dr. Langmia noted, “Generative AI can be helpful, but avoid using ChatGPT to generate your research topics. This is a serious mistake, as it constitutes plagiarism, since the information is generated from online sources.” 

To have high impact journals, he encouraged the staff and students to have quality research, increase budgets for research and publication and take part in annual conferences and trainings for African researchers. 

Sharing insights on ‘Mentorship in Academia’, Dr. Victor. V. Gomia defined mentorship in academia as a relationship where an experienced researcher supports a less experienced researcher to navigate the academic landscape. 

Pointing out how the academic staff can become good mentors, he noted, “advise mentees on how to govern challenges faced while doing research, offer guidance to your mentees in analysing data and offer constructive feedback”. 

He also pointed out that for most students, finding a suitable mentor is one of the challenges students face but a compatible mentor-mentee relationship fosters effective communication and quality research. 

Closing the two-day impactful learning session, Prof. Israel O. Obaroh, Director of the Directorate of Higher Degrees and Research commended the presenters for the eye-opening presentations and the academic staff and postgraduate students for the active participation. 

He also thanked Dr. Langmia for donating some of his books to the KIU library. As a takeaway, he encouraged participants to implement the discussed concepts by prioritizing publishing, nurturing mentor-mentee relationships, and dedicating time to writing and research, emphasizing that "tomorrow belongs to those who take action, not procrastinators”. 

The research workshop highlighted the importance of investing in research and development in Africa and the continent's failure to prioritize research has hindered its academic excellence. The workshop emphasized the need for African scholars to publish their research, use African theories, and nurture mentor-mentee relationships.