PhD supervisors at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) have been encouraged to strengthen their mentorship roles by embodying presence, integrity, and accessibility, following calls for improved supervision standards during a recent workshop held by the university.
The Mentors and Supervisors Workshop highlighted critical gaps in effective PhD mentorship, stressing the need for supervisors to lead by example in both their academic expertise and interpersonal skills.
Professor Nixon Kamukama, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, addressed the participants, noting that students often avoid certain PhD holders as supervisors--not due to a lack of academic knowledge, but rather issues of character, availability, and approachability.
"Your presence should be felt," he said, urging supervisors to let their soft skills and integrity speak for them. Kamukama emphasized that successful mentorship requires a combination of professional visibility and approachability.
The workshop aimed to close the mentorship gaps in academia by encouraging PhD holders to support students not only academically but also by fostering strong, collaborative mentoring relationships.
Dr. Angella Nakato Muyingo, MUST's Public Relations Officer, underscored the importance of mentoring skills, explaining that these contribute significantly to both student success and the university's growth. "Our mandate as a university is to promote research and innovation, but this requires mentors with pedagogical skills," she noted.
Assoc. Prof. Vincent Batwaala, Director of MUST's Graduate School, pointed to the pressing need for trained supervisors amid the broad range of postgraduate programs.
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He acknowledged that many institutions lack formal supervisory training, leaving mentors to rely on personal experience rather than structured guidance. "We depend on what we learned from our own mentors," Batwaala said.
"This workshop offers a timely opportunity to share experiences and address areas where we can improve."
Batwaala also urged PhD supervisors to actively support students through the proposal approval process, highlighting the financial strain that delays can impose.
"Let's listen to our students," he emphasized, explaining that delays at any stage can lead to significant costs, with students paying Shs1.27 million annually in functional fees and Shs20,000 to the National Council for Higher Education.
"For many, these expenses can be financially overwhelming."
The workshop marks an ongoing commitment at MUST to elevate the standards of academic mentorship, with supervisors called upon to act as both scholarly and ethical role models for the university's postgraduate community.
