George Nasinyama presented on the case for cross-cutting courses in PhD programs at Makerere University. Previously, PhD programs focused only on research and technical aspects of individual disciplines. Feedback from students revealed a need for courses in basic research skills like methodology, data analysis, and scholarly writing. In response, Makerere developed cross-cutting courses taught across disciplines to better equip students. Courses covered topics such as research methods, philosophy of science, and information management. The cross-cutting courses were well-received and helped strengthen PhD training by supplementing discipline-specific learning with foundational research expertise.

1. Grounding PhD students at
Makerere University:
The Case for Cross-cutting Courses
George Nasinyama
Assoc Prof and Deputy Director
Directorate of Research & Graduate Training
Presented at SLU – October 17, 2013

2. Content
 PhD
programs at Makerere University
 Why cross-cutting courses
 Outline of Cross-cutting courses
 Development and Delivery mode
 Conclusion
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

3. Forms of PhD programs
 Two
 By
basic forms
Thesis i.e. research alone
 Most
Common form
 Offered by all academic units/disciplines
 By
Course work & Dissertation
 Year
1 – course work
 Years 2-4 for Research and write-up
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

4. The need for Cross-cutting
courses
 Prior
to 1999, PhD was by Thesis alone
 Initiatives for taught PhD followed Mujjaju
Report (1999):
 PhD
qualification required for appointment as
a lecturer at Mak
 Increased support by staff development to
train staff to PhD level
 PhD degree programs by research alone were
considered inadequate
 Value
addition and intellectual discourse
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

5. Developments
 Subsequently,
a few pioneer Faculties
developed PhD programs by both
course work and research
 Faculty
of Computing and Information
Technology
 School of Education
 Faculty of Economics and Management
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

6. Currently…
 The
following colleges run some PhD
programs by Course work & Dissertation
 College
of Education and external Studies
 College of Computing and Information Sciences
 College of Business and Management Studies
 College of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

7. The Challenge
 Feedback
from PhD students revealed
 courses
offered dealt adequately with the
technical aspects in the various disciplines
 Inadequacy in terms of content in basic
courses required for sharpening the
students’ skills in research and publication
 Knowledge
areas identified - Research
methodology, Data analysis, Information
Management, Philosophy of Method, and
Scholarly writing and communication
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

8. Birth of cross-cutting courses - 2000
 School
of Graduate Studies developed
and coordinated cross-cutting courses
with support from development partners
 Sida/SAREC
of Sweden
 Carnegie Corporation of New York
 Norad of Norway
 in collaboration with some units of the
university
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

9. Cross cutting courses offered 2000-2007
Course
August/Sept
2001 Sept-2002
Aug/Sept 2003
July 2003
June 2005
No. of
participants
20
28
14
22
17
Nov/Dec 2001
Nov/Dec 2002
Nov/Dec 2004
Nov/Dec 2006
30
24
25
26
Statistics and Computer
Applications in Research
May 2002
May 2004
July 2007
July 2008
20
20
10
10
Genes and Genomes
Conducted 5
times
2006
2007
2008
100
Philosophy of Method
Collaborating
Institution
Linkoping University,
Norway
Advanced Gender Research Gottenberg University,
Methods
Germany
Quantitative & Qualitative
Research Methodology
Information Competence &
Management
Lund University,
Sweden
Dates
12
32
36

10. Curriculum of CCCs
a) Core Courses
ITS
code
CCC
9101
Course name
LH
PH
TH
CH CU
Advanced Research
Methods
30
40
10
60
4
ART
9102
ART
9105
Philosophy of Method
30
-
15
45
3
Scholarly Writing &
Communication Skills
20
20
15
45
3
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

11. b) Electives
ITS code
Course name
LH PH TH CH CU
LIB 9103
Information Competence &
Management
Advanced gender Research
Methodology
Advanced Quantitative Data
Analysis
Advanced Qualitative Research
Methodology & Data Analysis
Mechanisms & epidemiology of
Cancer with focus on Africa
Clinical Epidemiology
20
20 15
45
3
20
20 15
35
3
30
20 20
60
4
30
20 20
60
4
20
20 15
45
3
20
20 15
45
3
25
20 10
45
3
FVM 7201
Genes and Genomes in the
Tropics
Advanced Epidemiology
30
10 25
60
4
FOM 9110
Biomedical Research Methods
30
60 -
60
4
WGS 9104
ISE 9106
SOC 9107
FOM 2087
FOM 9108
FOM 9109

12. In addition…
 Workshops
for academic staff annually:
 Scholarly
writing & Communication Skills
 Research Management
 Includes
grant proposal writing
 Supervision
 For
staff with PhDs
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

13. Content and Delivery
 Identification
of staff in Mak with competence and
expertise in the areas
 Interest by PhD students is high
 Value of courses rated highly from feedback/
course evaluations
 Courses taken for credit and credits are
transferable
 Curriculum developed and with senate
 DRGT coordinates the running of the courses
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

14. Conclusion
 Development
of CCCs arose out of need
to better ground and produce quality
PhD students
 Positive evaluation of CCCs by PhD
students
 Drive is to have some taught component
in all PhD programs at Mak
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013

15. TAC
[THANK YOU FOR LISTENING]
Presentation by George Nasinyama at
SLU - Oct 17, 2013