There is a saying that an academic who does not publish perishes.

This has everything to do with mastering the art of research, which comes with experience and acquisition of relevant skills. However, it is an open secret that Rwandan universities lack enough qualified academic staff to guide and promote research among students. Plagiarism and substandard academic research have all been subjects for debate for long with seemingly no solution in sight.

The key missing link has always been lack of a pool of qualified personnel in our universities to teach and supervise research students, especially at post-graduate level. This is because, apart from supporting academics, research is central to achieving socio-economic development in any country, and more so for in a developing nation like Rwanda.

Therefore, the move by the University of Rwanda to compel staff to acquire more skills through PhD studies should be supported by all stakeholders. Sharpening skills of lecturers through PhD training will go a long way in easing the current challenges faced by the country and institutions of higher learning by closing the gaps that lead to poor academic and other types of research.

In fact, advanced training is instrumental in grounding a scholar in their field. This helps them to give students qualified guidance, and also inspires research that would enable the country and communities to solve the challenges they face.

It is clear that with fewer than 20 per cent at the University of Rwanda academic staff being PhD holders, a lot still needs to be done. As the main institution of higher learning in the country, the varsity is expected to support other sectors of the economy, as well as guide policy-making.

This is more the reason the university must move fast to address this challenge, but in a manner that won’t affect teaching. Other universities in the country should follow suit and embrace this positive development. Otherwise, without qualified personnel to spearhead research in the country, goals set by the government to help improve the lives of Rwandans may come to knot.