Gweru, Zimbabwe – Midlands State University (MSU) has reinforced its dedication to fostering academic rigour and timely postgraduate completion with a high-energy Postgraduate Research Capacity Workshop on Thursday, 5 June 2025.
Orchestrated by the Postgraduate Studies Office and delivered in a hybrid format, the event united students, supervisors, and facilitators for a day of immersive, skills-driven training—centred on the twin pillars of impactful research: methodology and literature review.
With over 100 participants in attendance, the workshop unfolded under the compelling theme: “Strengthening Postgraduate Research Foundations: Mastering Methodology and Literature Review for Richer Theses.”
This focus tackled some of the most pressing hurdles faced by postgraduate scholars—obstacles that, if unaddressed, can derail progress or dilute research quality.
Through structured sessions and interactive dialogue, the workshop equipped attendees with the clarity, confidence, and tools needed to propel their academic journeys forward.
In his opening address, Professor M. Maphosa, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Administration, delivered a stirring mandate.
Urging students to maintain unwavering focus, he declared: “We are no longer in an era of open-ended research, where students timed out. Timely completion is not just possible—it is expected.”
His message to supervisors was equally resolute: be present, be engaged, and mentor proactively.
He pressed faculty members to co-author with students, integrate them into scholarly networks, and champion their efforts to publish and present research.
Professor Maphosa underscored that postgraduate study should transcend degree acquisition—it must serve as a gateway to academic discourse, innovation, and tangible impact.
The workshop’s agenda was meticulously crafted to translate theory into practice.
The day kicked off with Mapping the Research Journey, led by Professor H. T. Ngoshi and Professor M. Shumba.
This session dissected the art of formulating a research problem and aligning it with objectives and questions—a cornerstone of any successful thesis.
Next, Dr. W. Dzimiri, Mr. S. Masunda, and Dr. Dambaza steered a masterclass on Choosing the Right Research Methodology.
Participants explored the logic, strengths, and limitations of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches, enriched by real-world case studies that bridged academia and application.
The spotlight then turned to literature review mastery.
Professor J. Matunhu and Dr. M. Bhebhe guided attendees through Crafting a Critical Literature Review, emphasizing structure, conceptual frameworks, and gap identification—empowering students to shift from summary to synthesis and critique.
A standout session, led by Dr. E. Mutenheri, tackled Aligning Literature with Methodology.
Through interactive critique exercises, participants learned to forge coherence between their review and research design—a frequently overlooked yet vital element of credible, publishable work.
Complementing the formal agenda, participants explored interactive displays by the university library, Campus Radio, and The Dyke Journal, showcasing exemplary postgraduate work and academic resources.
This hands-on segment offered visual inspiration and peer-driven insights, reinforcing the day’s lessons.
The workshop culminated in a reflections panel, where students shared key takeaways.
Many hailed the event as a transformative experience, dispelling confusion and reigniting their drive to complete their degrees.
In his closing remarks, Dr. U. Saidi, Postgraduate Studies Manager, lauded facilitators for their expertise and dynamism.
He urged students to remain engaged, ask bold questions, and leverage available support systems to the fullest.
More than a training session, the workshop marked a paradigm shift in MSU’s approach to postgraduate research.
It sent an unequivocal message: MSU is committed to postgraduate success.
Combining structured guidance, robust mentorship, and exacting standards, the university isn’t just preparing students to earn degrees—it’s equipping them to shape the future of global scholarship.