Building a rich culture of research and knowledge generation: CBPLG hosts dissertation supervision webinar for MIP 2020/21 Cohort

9 February 2021

The College of Business, Peace Leadership and Governance hosted an online workshop for the 2020/21 Masters in Intellectual Property Cohort in the art of dissertation writing and and the supervision process. This workshop and others like it that are coordinated across the three colleges is in keeping with the strategic move of the institution towards the assurance of quality in every aspect of its operations to measure up to and surpass the world class standards that it aspires to.

Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Mageto delivered welcoming remarks at the opening of the workshop and stressed the need for academic rigor, integrity of research  and the generation of high quality knowledge.

“The dissertation phase is a critical point in the academic journey as it presents an opportunity to generate new knowledge and is a test of one’s ability to engage what has been taught throughout the programme and to develop new models and systems that can improve the continent. We continue to put in place mechanisms to ensure quality across the board in our university especially as it concerns research and ethics.”

Africa University recently appointed Dr. Pedzisai Mangezvo to the position of Director of Quality Assurance to drive this vision and enhance existing processes that have been put in place to measure and maintain institutional standards. To advance research output, renowned academic Professor Pamela Machakanja has been appointed Director of Research and Innovation. Both strategic appointments will see Africa University substantially increasing knowledge generation and research among students and staff to position AU on the path to becoming a research hub in Zimbabwe and on the continent.

Acting VC Prof. Mageto went on to speak of the important role that supervisors play in bringing out the best of student research and unleashing the academic potential of the student body. He went on to praise the ongoing partnership that continues to grow from strength to strength with ARIPO, WIPO and the Government of Japan in the Intellectual Property field.

” The Masters in Intellectual Property program has to date over 370 alumni from all over Africa. We shall ensure that our partnership with ARIPO and WIPO continues to provide opportunities for our people”

Director of Research and Innovation , Professor Pamela Machakanja in her remarks  said, 

“For research excellence to be achieved, we must always seek new knowledge and see opportunities in the midst of challenges. Research is an open- ended and multi- faceted endeavor where we must be grounded and guided by prevailing standards and best practices to be at par on a regional and an international level. We must ensure that our intellectual creativity and inquiry has impact, is relevant and is contextual.”

The Masters in Intellectual Property program that enrolled its first cohort in 2008 has grown to become one of the best in the region and has among its alumni leaders in government, the legal and corporate sectors as well as NGO’s. 25 countries from across Africa have been represented making it one of the university’s most culturally diverse programs. The program is designed to create IP expertise in Africa, support IP teaching in institutions of higher learning and to promote IP systems in Africa.