Participants of the SEDU workshop pose for a group photo after the event.
The Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology’s School of Education (SEDU) researchers have been advised to tailor their proposals as per the requirements of the different funding agencies in order to increase the chances of funding. This was evident during a one-day workshop organized by the Office of the Associate Dean – SEDU, themed ‘Upgrading Proposals for External Funding’, which was held at Golf hotel, on 28th February 2023. The workshop offered an opportunity for the faculty members to review nine (9) proposals in preparation for applications for external funding.
Speaking during the official opening of the workshop, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Planning, Research, and Innovation (DVC PR&I), Prof. Charles Mutai commended the School of Education for taking up the challenge and investing in research to this extent. He encouraged the researchers in the University to emulate the pace set by SEDU and work together, assuring them of unwavering support from his Division as well as the management.
“Proposals can never be 100% when done individually, however, through such avenues and round table discussions, we increase the quality and rigor of our proposals, hence enhancing their success with external funding agencies,” said Prof. Mutai.
From right Dean SEDU, Prof. Moses Poipoi, (Middle), the Registrar Academic Affairs, Prof. Thomas Sakwa and (left) the Deputy Vice Chancellor-Planning Research and Innovation, Prof. Charles Mutai during the event.
The Registrar Planning, Research, and Innovation (PR&I), Prof. Alice Ndiema, lauded the group for their commitment to research. She also commended them for making Physical Education mandatory for its students and challenged them to take up social life education and nurture the students’ social relational skills.
“This is a huge milestone that you can come together to review proposals prepared in your School for purposes of improving them to attract external funding. It is a commendable strategy that we should invest in as a University,” stated the Registrar Academic Affairs, Prof. Thomas Sakwa.
In his address, the Director of Research and Post-Graduate Support, Prof. Peter Bukhala, encouraged the researchers to keep up the good work, saying that the University Research Fund (URF) has the capacity to fund more baseline proposals. He also pointed out the need to upscale research proposals commending the researchers who have been attending the Thursday seminars, which have formed the basis of funding for URF.
Additionally, the Dean of SEDU, Prof. Moses Poipoi thanked the Division of Planning Research and Innovation for its steadfast support of research done in the School. Further, he extended his appreciation to the Director of Research for agreeing to their request and allowing his team to engage with external experts, in scrutinizing their proposals with the intention of strengthening their ability to secure external funding.
“The Division of Planning, Research, and Innovation has continually supported us. In 2021, you funded eight (8) research proposals from SEDU to the tune of over 3 million Kenyan Shillings,” noted Prof. Poipoi.
The guest speaker of the day, Prof. Francis Wegulo made a detailed presentation on ‘How to utilize seed-funded projects and feedback to prepare a smart grant application for external funding’. “It is important that we know to whom we are sending our proposals and understand what kind of proposals they accept and under what conditions. This will help us to tailor our proposals to fit into the framework that allows our proposals to be accepted for review. Let us also remember that there is stiff competition out here. We should therefore up our game by ensuring that our proposals meet the required standards to compete favorably. These are basic requirements we need to understand as we move forward,” he stated.
Prof. Francis Wegulo making a presentation during the workshop.
Prof. Wegulo further discussed the relevance of issues, the precision of issues, and a thorough review of pertinent literature with a focus on; theories, empirical studies, and methodological issues to be the critical things that funders look for in a smart grant application. He commended the team from SEDU for a job well done, saying he appreciated reading their proposals.
“Going forward, we need to take the reviewed comments and work on them to refine our proposals for approval for funding. Congratulations for being the pioneers and greatest users of the University Research Funds,” said Prof. Wegulo.
The researchers who made presentations of their proposals included Prof. Kennedy Bota, Prof. Joseph Nasongo, Dr. Catherine Aura, Dr. Teresa Okoth, Dr. Rose Opiyo, Dr. Eunice Majanga, Dr. Nganyi Jason, and Dr. Caroline Sabina Wekullo.
By Caren Nekesa
Photos by Mary Wangari Wambugu
