New rules mean postgraduates must publish before graduating

All postgraduate students pursuing either masters or doctoral degrees in Tanzanian universities are now required to publish papers in reputable peer-reviewed journals before graduating, according to new standards and guidelines for university education released this month by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU).

According to the commission, the postgraduate training, research and innovation guidelines were developed in consideration of “emerging national, regional and global dynamics”.

The commission said the third edition of Standards and Guidelines for University Education in Tanzania will help to improve the quality of training at postgraduate level, which can help drive the aspirations and development goals of the country while adhering to regional and international quality standards.

Emphasis on quality

TCU’s Executive Secretary Professor Charles Kihampa said that the country had for a long time failed to put emphasis on the quality of publications by postgraduate scholars. These new guidelines, he said, will look at many aspects of teaching and learning, especially the quality of research output from postgraduate students.

In the new structure, postgraduate programmes will encompass coursework, research and a practical component, with each being assessed separately.

Only PhD holders will be involved in the academic programmes of postgraduate students, according to the new guidelines. However, the commission said in cases where non-PhD holder staff are involved in postgraduate activities, “their roles shall be explicitly defined and shall be limited to assisting senior staff in the teaching and learning activities”.

Universities are now also required to offer and assess a masters degree programme by coursework and dissertation through continuous assessment that includes tests, assignments, seminars and practical sessions. Additionally, there will be end-of-semester examinations and independent research is to be produced that culminates in an examinable dissertation.

Peer-reviewed journals

Masters candidates are required to produce at least one draft paper manuscript based on their research results that will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal recognised by the university offering the programme, while PhD candidates will need to have at least one paper published and at least two accepted manuscripts in a peer-reviewed journal based on their research for them to qualify for the award of the PhD.

Postgraduate students at universities will be required to present papers at seminars and conduct outreach activities. The commission has also asked all universities to encourage innovation of products, solutions or services as equivalent to publication requirements for promotions and other purposes.

All universities have been directed by the TUC to “encourage postgraduate research findings and innovative ideas to be disseminated and used to influence socio-economic advancement and-or decision-making at the institutional, national, regional and international levels”.

As a result, all universities shall participate in “incubating research and innovation outputs and outcomes for better results that have an impact to society”.

Plagiarism

The commission has tasked the universities with the job of developing guidelines for theses or dissertations with respect to the postgraduate programmes offered and of ensuring academic integrity in all theses or dissertations and preventing plagiarism. In this regard, the commission has said postgraduate students will be required to have an anti-plagiarism report as a requirement for graduation.

Chakupewa Mpambije, a lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of Dar es Salaam, welcomed the new guidelines, saying they will help improve the quality of postgraduate training.

“Previously, there were many PhD holders who used to graduate without knowing the basics of publishing papers. So when they go back to their work stations, especially in higher learning institutions, they turn out to be a burden to their institutions,” said Mpambije.

He said ongoing research and publication by PhD candidates were critical for new knowledge and innovation to drive the country’s economy.