Last month, students in various universities across China finalised their dissertation, and this included dedicating time to academic activities and attaining all the necessary requirements to get their degrees.

Being inquisitive, I put on hold my daily engagements to follow some of the students’ activities. It was an interesting experience; I saw considerable differences during the research presentations from students across all disciplines.

It looked to me like they were intimidated by the panellists — they presented what they had, but some failed to be articulate with their research.

That said, lack of confidence and poor research skills will compromise the competence of some learners, something that needs to change.

How do we add knowledge to knowledge or influence policymakers to make informed decisions in various institutions for effective delivery and development?

How do our students fair in their respective programmes? Do they write research papers and have the confidence to support them before a panel of professors or supervisors?

Chinese undergraduates are questioned fiercely, so a Chinese student will tell you that it’s not easy to graduate — you must earn the gown. It’s no wonder that there are no job interviews; it’s just a selection process since quality is guaranteed.

While I reflected on all this, I remembered that I completed the three years of my undergraduate course and without even a two-page academic research paper to my name; I was called a few months later for my degree. This did not stop me from walking around Wandegeya, Uganda, in my gown with pride.

It looks like education policymakers and curriculum developers have forgotten the significance of research, and how closely it is linked to education. Surprisingly, they talk about innovation and a knowledge-based economy, but how do you intend to achieve that without investing in research, particularly in institutions of higher learning?

Even the few institutions that actually recognise it have not pushed their students to test the authenticity of their research.

Many students have resorted to giving other people to do their research for them, and in the end, such a person will pass. However, once the opportunity to study further surfaces, the individual and the system at large are put to shame.

Let’s empower our learners more through research as this will inspire our country’s social and economic transformation.

The writer is a PhD student at Beijing Normal University

pontiankbr@outlook.com