KAMPALA, UGANDA- April 30, 2023: Dr. Peter Samuels, a Senior Lecturer at Birmingham City University, is set to share his expertise in research training with academics in Africa. Invited by the Network for Education & Multidisciplinary Research Africa (NEMRA), he will conduct a three-day workshop in Uganda from May 14th, 2023. The workshop will cover a range of topics related to research and academic writing and will be offered free of charge. In an interview with ResearchFinds News Managing Editor ARINAITWE RUGYENDO, Dr. Samuels discusses his upcoming event and the impact he hopes it will have.
Rugyendo: Briefly tell us about yourself
Dr. Peter Samuels: I am a Senior Lecturer in Research Practice at Birmingham City University with a background in mathematics, education research, applied statistics, and academic writing. I am particularly interested in teaching research methods, supervising, and training supervisors. Currently, I coordinate approximately 1,000 undergraduate and Masters Dissertation students each year in our Business School, and I also teach research methods to our doctoral students. My full research profile can be found on ResearchGate. Recently, I have published a book on proposal writing for business research projects, a book chapter on scale formation for questionnaire analysis, and an example of critical appraisal of a journal article.
Rugyendo: What is your relationship with NEMRA?
Dr. Peter Samuels: I have been working with NEMRA since 2019 and have organized online trainings with them during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have also collaborated on some joint funding.
Rugyendo: Why are you coming for this particular workshop and what should participants expect?
Dr. Peter Samuels: I have designed a program for the 3-day workshop based on advice from NEMRA Co-Founder, Dr. Loice Natukunda:
Monday, 15th am: Supervisory relationships, time management, and stress management
Monday, 15th pm: Data collection and preparation
Tuesday, 16th am: Qualitative analysis using software
Tuesday, 16th pm: Exploratory/descriptive quantitative data analysis
Wednesday, 17th am: Statistical testing using software
Wednesday, 17th pm: Thesis and viva preparation
The Tuesday and Wednesday morning sessions will be taught using blended learning and will require some software installation prior to attending. The other sessions will follow a more traditional approach.
Rugyendo: Who is eligible to attend?
Dr. Peter Samuels: Established Researchers and earlier career researchers, especially doctoral students.
Rugyendo: How do they access information to attend?
Dr. Peter Samuels: NEMRA has announced an advanced research methods workshop from 15 -17 May 2023. The physical venue is Muteesa I Royal University Mengo Campus. Those who wish to participate can follow this Registration link https://forms.gle/xJjoqKfeMwJfCDKY8. One will be required to install software on their computers in advance for the software sessions that will be taught as blended learning.
Rugyendo: From your long teaching/supervision/research experience, what do you make of the north and south divide in terms of research outputs and experience?
Dr. Samuels: While I don’t have a comprehensive answer to this question, I am honored to work closely with NEMRA due to its supportive and open ethos. There is immense talent in Uganda that needs to be developed so that individuals, teams, organizations, and the community at large can thrive. My joy lies in seeing others develop confidence, ability, succeed with academic outputs, and gain a stronger sense of identity within the academic community. That is why I have personally funded my own ticket and taken leave to provide this training.
Rugyendo: Doesn’t this imply an imbalance between the North and the South?
Dr. Samuels: True. But the imbalance in research outputs and experience between the North and South is primarily due to socio-economic factors. We need to move beyond poverty and colonial mindsets and foster mutually respectful partnerships.
Rugyendo: Why is this workshop important for African researchers, particularly budding scholars?
Dr. Samuels: This workshop is specifically designed to develop doctoral researchers. The Monday morning session covers soft skills that are essential but often overlooked. The following two days focus on data analysis based on Dr. Loice’s advice. The last afternoon covers the final stages of completing a doctorate.
Rugyendo: What is your assessment of the future of the African research terrain?
Dr. Samuels: Having worked with universities in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, each with its unique context, I have observed a gradual improvement in the knowledge economy in these countries.
Rugyendo: What are the missing links and what can be done about it?
Dr. Samuels: One of the key missing links in Uganda, in my opinion, is the gap between elite institutions and the rest of the higher education sector. This is why I find working with NEMRA so exciting and rewarding, as they are actively promoting research capacity development across the entire sector. In Rwanda, universities have benefited greatly from World Bank funding over the past 7 years, but now their challenge is to sustain the momentum as this funding comes to an end. In Kenya, there are already established international partnerships, but I am pleased to be making a small difference with a technical university in rejuvenating their research efforts.
Rugyendo: If such a gap exists, how can elite researchers bridge with the rest, especially a non-academic audience?
Dr. Samuels: As a recently appointed course director for our Doctorate in Business Administration, I am looking forward to working with professionals, executives, and leaders in applied research that has real-world impact on organizations, while also contributing to the body of knowledge. I believe that the majority of research in Uganda is undertaken with the aim of benefiting society as a whole. To effectively communicate research to a non-academic audience, it’s important for academics to be straightforward and communicate in a simple and meaningful way, focusing on the relevance and practical implications of their work.
Rugyendo: You are a highly experienced researcher, trainer, and teacher. Can you share your approach and what African researchers can learn from it?
Dr. Samuels: Becoming an academic requires a form of self-discipline. I often work long hours, sometimes up to 16 hours a day, in my voluntary work in East Africa, and I teach with passion because I am driven to develop others and see them succeed. Success in academia is built on many small achievements, and it requires hard work, determination, and critical thinking skills. It’s important to have focus, consistency, and clear articulation, and to understand your own identity as a researcher and the expectations of your audience.
Rugyendo: You talk of free work in East Africa. Why do you do what you do?
Dr. Peter Samuels: I do it in honor of my parents who passed away about 7 years ago. I chose to give something back to society rather than pursue my own career full-time.
Rugyendo: Do you believe that academics who have achieved success should give back, using your model?
Dr. Samuels: It is a personal choice, but I believe that if you have been blessed with gifts and a vision, you should be willing to make sacrifices to fulfill that vision. Giving back and contributing to the expansion of knowledge can be expressed in many ways, and it’s important to care about others and find meaningful ways to make a positive impact, especially in areas where access to post-graduate education is still a logistical challenge.
Rugyendo: What are your parting thoughts or takeaways?
Dr. Samuels: Stay humble, remember why you are doing what you are doing, and keep persevering. We are all lifelong learners. Follow the ethos of NEMRA, which encourages supporting each other, celebrating successes, and learning from failures.
Is a longtime journalist in Uganda who has served as a cab reporter, Bureau Chief, Managing Editor, and Digital Media Editor at the country's prominent publications such as Daily Monitor, Red Pepper, and now, Research Finds News since 1999.
Rugyendo is currently a Ph.D. Fellow in Journalism and Communication at Makerere University, a Desmond Tutu Fellow, Crans Montana New Leader, and Chairman of Young Engineers Uganda and Uganda Premier League.
This is good piece. Thank you Mr. Rugyendo for capturing this information. I also 5hank Mr. Samuels for a such big heart and willingness to share his research knowledge freely.
Very insightful and instructive. Thank you Mr. Arinaitwe and Dr. Samuels for this sharing. Keep the fire burning.