Minister cautions academicians on research

SOUTHERN PROVINCE HUYE—Education Minister Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujyawamariya has challenged academicians at the National University of Rwanda (NUR) to conduct researches that are of significance to challenges faced by the local people. Officiating the opening of a three day scientific research conference organised by the NUR, the minister wondered why University staff and students have had a lukewarm response towards research. “We in the past had a number of conferences in the country but it is disheartening to find that our local academicians and students’ contribution in terms of research is still very low,” said Mujyawamariya. To break this cycle, Mujyawamariya called upon University professors to conduct joint research projects with students as a way of introducing them to the trade and at the same time motivating them. The Minister blamed University dons for a vice that is cropping up in higher learning where students enlist the help of prisoners serving jail terms in writing their dissertations. “We have information that some students at this university have their dissertations written by prisoners in Karubanda prison. Their supervisors are largely to blame because they are supposed to monitor the whole research exercise other than accepting fully bound dissertations at one go,” she said. The Minister stressed that even at the undergraduate level; students should be guided in conducting research that has relevance to the needs of the society. The Rector of UNR Professor Silas Lwakabamba called upon Professors to embrace research if they have to gain promotion in the academic world. “The acceptable number of research papers supposed to be presented every year by every University Professor is between one and five. It is surprising to find that last year only 14 research papers were produced by over 400 dons at the National University,” said Lwakabamba. Lwakabamba revealed that the Swedish government under the Swedish International Development Agency has availed $4m for research related activities at the University. During this conference, over twenty researchers will present their research findings. Research papers will be presented from the Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Arts and Humanities and from the Centre of Geographical and Information Systems. Ends