Benson Oloya: My Experience during the DAAD/TCC Training Workshop held in September 2017 in Kampala – Uganda

I  am a DAAD scholar pursuing a PhD programme in Chemistry at Makerere University, with interest in medicinal plants. I am currently working on plant species believed to have oxytocic properties.

I was very much privileged to have been invited as one of the participants to attend the 6-day training workshop in “Scientific Communication and Publishing” organized by DAAD and Training Centre in Communication (TCC) – Africa scheduled for 17-22^nd September 2017 at Eureka Place Hotel, Kampala Uganda. I can confirm that learning took place with acquisition of new skills, knowledge and change of attitude. 

The approach used focussed more on exposing the participants on ‘how to do it’ rather than ‘what to do’. The attempt was on Competence Based Approach where emphasis was on development of skills rather than outpouring of knowledge (knowledge based), which knowledge is many times ‘discarded’ as soon as a workshop is declared closed. I very much appreciate the approach used.

The main topics covered included:

• Scientific Writing and Publishing,
• Access and Use of E-Resources,
• Research Proposal Writing,
• Data Analysis for Graphical Presentation,
• Designing Scientific Posters
• Oral Communication Presentation
• Networking in Conferences and Workshops.

Although I came for the workshop when I had knowledge and skills in some of the topics listed above, I must say I learnt a great deal of knowledge and skills. Even things I thought I had mastered, I was able to discover better ways of doing them.

The facilitators were very inspirational and motivational to say the least. They laboured to offer the best they could and it was very much appreciable. They gave enough room for open discussion and regularly sought for feedback throughout their sessions. They demonstrated expertise and maturity in their interaction with the participants.

With all the knowledge, skills, and attitude change, I can say that it was an experience for which it was worth dedicating my limited time. All in all, I feel much empowered and well equipped to continue with my research schedules with much ease.

However, I wish to propose that such a wonderful training could be organised a little earlier in the scholarship period so that scholars on PhD program by thesis could get these research skills much earlier, possibly during Semester I break or early in Semester II, of the first year of their study.

Finally, I wish to thank the DAAD sincerely for the Scholarship awarded to me and also for funding the training, TCC through its Trainers for conducting the training successfully, and last but not least, fellow participants for their wonderful contributions during training sessions. May the almighty God bless you all.