Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) on Tuesday and Wednesday 2nd and 3rd December 2024 conducted a comprehensive two-day training workshop for the MMUST Journals’ Editorial Board and Editors in Rastopack Hotel, Busia County.
The workshop focused on enhancing academic publishing standards and editorial practices as a basic exercise aimed at equipping the MMUST Journals editors with skills that will enable management of the journals to match the international standards. This brought together key editorial personnel from various academic sections of the University, assigned different roles in the University journals. Participants engaged in intensive sessions designed to strengthen their scholarly publishing skills, discuss emerging trends in academic publishing, and develop strategies for maintaining high-quality research publications and the journals credibility.
Speaking during the official opening of the workshop, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Planning Research and Innovation Prof. Charles Mutai emphasized the importance of continuous professional development for editorial teams, highlighting the workshop's role in elevating the university's academic reputation and research dissemination capabilities. He assured participants that the University Management fully supports this initiative will provide all the necessary support to ensure that MMUST journals achieve international recognition, which he said will eventually elevate the status of our University.
Prof. Charles Mutai addressing workshop participants during the official openning
Discussions during the workshop centered on critical aspects of editorial management, including manuscript evaluation processes, peer review mechanisms, and ethical considerations in academic publishing. Dr. David Barasa, who was one of the facilitators handled sessions that addressed current challenges in scholarly communication and explored innovative approaches to journal management in the wake of Artificial Intelligence and the need for high level of accuracy in evaluating manuscripts to detect AI assisted manuscripts.
The workshop provided a platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative learning, and strategic planning for MMUST's academic journals, aiming to enhance the quality and impact of scholarly publications produced by MMUST and other institutions or individuals who will publish in MMUST journals. This workshop was organized by the Directorate of Postgraduate Support under the leadership of Prof. Francis Orata. During the workshop, three papers were successfully published in MMUST Journals. The papers were entitled: Matumizi ya mkabala njia mseto katika ufundishaji na ujifunzaji wa Kiswahili katika shule za upili, Changamoto na suluhu za usimilishaji wa vielelezo katika fasihi ya watoto: mfano kutoka wasifu wa Mwana Kupona wa King’ei (2008) and Mabadiliko ya Itikadi za Ujinaishaji katika Jamii ya Wakuria
Dr. Collins Matemba addressing workshop participants during the closing ceremony
As the workshop concluded, participants, including the Registrar Planning Research and Innovation Dr. Collins Matemba who officially closed the workshop expressed renewed commitment to maintaining rigorous academic standards and promoting high-quality research communication through the university's various academic journals.
