Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Organizes Workshop for Doctoral Students on Research Excellence and Career Development

The School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, recently hosted a workshop for its doctoral (PhD) students, aimed at addressing common academic research challenges and enhancing career development skills.

In his opening remarks, the Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Nwabueze Elom, highlighted the workshop as part of the university’s ongoing academic development series. He emphasized its focus on supporting students in manuscript preparation, navigating ethical expectations, and fostering academic excellence and innovation. The workshop also provided a platform for collaboration, idea exchange, and professional networking among participants.

Professor Robert Onyeneke, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, delivered a lecture titled “Sourcing and Writing for Grants.” He stressed that in today’s competitive research environment, securing grants is a key milestone for researchers. He outlined the essentials of successful grant proposals, including well-defined objectives, clear research design, evidence of a knowledge gap, realistic budgets, timelines, and alignment with funders’ priorities. He also shared examples of unsuccessful proposals and highlighted common missteps to avoid.

Dr. Chinedu Eleazu, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, presented on critical aspects of academic writing, plagiarism, and publication ethics. He underscored the importance of clarity, originality, and adherence to institutional and disciplinary standards. Dr. Eleazu highlighted challenges such as predatory journals, duplicate submissions, authorship disputes, and data manipulation, stressing transparency, accountability, and mentorship as essential for ethical scholarly communication. He also advised students on responsible use of plagiarism detection tools and adherence to university policies.

Dr. Makuachukwu Ojide from the Department of Economics and Development Studies focused on research methodology, data generation, and software tools for treatment-focused studies. He emphasized designing experiments and surveys with clear operational definitions and established procedures to ensure reproducibility. His lecture combined theoretical frameworks with practical guidance, equipping students with the skills necessary for rigorous and ethically sound research.

Finally, Dr. Achi provided guidance on timely completion of postgraduate programmes, sharing practical strategies to enhance research progress, maintain focus, and improve academic preparedness.

The workshop reinforced Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike’s commitment to building research capacity, promoting ethical scholarly practices, and preparing doctoral students for success in academia and beyond.