There is need for more Rwandans to develop interest in research activities to help find solutions to some of the challenges the country faces. Dr Mercy Nwankwo, the head of research at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) – Kigali campus, has said Rwanda and other African countries have lagged behind in development because of overdependence on research and innovations from the West.

"Most of the time we rely on studies done abroad because we lack capacity in research. Therefore, there is need to reawaken interest in research among students and academicians to help bridge the knowledge gap in the country and Africa, generally. Most of the works we use in schools and universities are produced in the West or Asia and might not be applicable here. So, we need to develop capacity to find solutions to problems facing the country and the East African region,” Nwankwo said.

She was speaking at the end of a three-day workshop on "Capacity building skills and knowledge in conduct of research” organised by JKUAT at Classic Hotel in Kicukiro on June 21.

Nwankwo challenged institutions of higher learning to spearhead a drive to stimulate interest in research that will lead to new innovations and local solutions for problems the region faces. She added that this will also help reduce the growing challenge of plagiarism among university students in the country. "If students are equipped with the right skills and shown the right direction, the problem will be history,” she said.

The seminar attracted over 300 master’s and PhD students from JKUAT. Recent media reports indicate a growing trend of plagiarism among students while doing their research projects.

Dr Marvin Mbassana, a senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda’s College of Business and Economics, said such training in research methods will equip Rwandans with right skills to compete on the global arena. He said universities and students have an obligation to undertake research to contribute to the wellbeing of the society.

Commenting on the issue of plagiarism, he urged universities to make students understand why they must shun the vice. "Universities should buy software that detects plagiarism, but most importantly, they must educate students why it is important to avoid plagiarism…students should understand that it tarnishes the image of the country and the education system,” Mbassana said.

He called for attitude change among students, noting that the habit of liking ‘quick fixes’ is fueling plagiarism in institutions of higher learning.

Mbassana also urged the government and universities to prioritise research and allocate it more funds to help researchers build body of new knowledge and find solutions to challenges country and the region face.

Charles Nsanzabera, a public health PhD candidate at JKUAT, said the training was insightful, and that it will help improve the standards of students’ research projects.

During the closure of the workshop, participants were awarded with certificates of participation.

The training focused on five areas, including research methods, framework development, sampling techniques, data analysis, evaluation and publications as a way to build their capacities.