Call for mentees

1.0.            INTRODUCTION

Postgraduate students understand that higher level study differs significantly from their undergraduate experience. As undergraduates, the goal was to obtain knowledge, while in postgraduate level the goal is to contribute knowledge to a field of study. In this case mentorship is important in order to enable students learn the skills to successful contribute in their fields. The mentor-mentee relationships provide support and guidance for successful research career and is also valuable in for providing research opportunities to young researchers.

The goal of TERNET Junior Researchers Workshop is to provide guidance and experience from senior researchers as well as provide instruction for writing successful theses/dissertations, journal articles, grant proposals, etc. Participants will be required to provide a recent sample of their writing, which will be reviewed by a mentor (senior researcher). The sample could be a current draft of thesis/dissertation, an article to be submitted for publication or an early version of a grant proposal. Mentors will be reputable researchers and theses/dissertation supervisors from universities/research institutions, who will review the submitted materials before the workshop and provide individual feedback during the workshop. Participants will be expected to use the feedback to refine their writing work.

The workshop consists of three face-to-face sessions with mentors (each for one hour) and three panel discussions (each for one hour). The workshop is designed for Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD students, and Masters’ students in their thesis writing stage. The capacity of the workshop is 30 mentees and 5 mentors.

2.0.            OBJECTIVES OF THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Key objectives of the workshop are as follows:

i.                    Senior researchers to share experience and provide guidance to mentees.

ii.                  Provide individualized feedback on mentees writing work in order to help them succeed in writing their theses/dissertation, proposals, publications, etc.

iii.                To expand the network and open more research opportunities for young researchers.

3.0.            PROGRAM ORGANIZATION

3.1.            Venue and time

The workshop will be held at Whitesands Hotel, Dar es Salaam on 9^th September 2020 from 8:00 to 16:30 hrs.

3.2.            Important Dates

i.                    Writing work submission deadline 12^th July 2020

ii.                  Workshop participation acceptance feedback 15^th August 2020

3.3.            Fees

There is no fee for mentees to attend this workshop, but it is mandatory that the attendees of this workshop attend the International Conference on Higher Education and Research Institutions Digital Transformation to be held at the same venue on 10^th and 11^th September 2020. Therefore, the conference fee covers this workshop as well.

Mentors will be sponsored by TERNET to participate in the workshop on 9^th and conference on 10^th and 11^th September 2020.

3.4.            Important Notes

i.                    It is advised that each mentee bring a laptop to be able to work seamlessly with their mentors.

ii.                  Mentors and mentees should be in Dar es Salaam on or before 8^th September 2020.

iii.                The work that was submitted will be the focus of discussion between mentor and mentee during face-to-face hours. Any extra work will be taken as per the mentor’s discretion.  

iv.                Mentors and mentees are supposed to be available for the entire duration of the workshop.