Research Funding Workshop hosted by Department of Research and Innovation

On the 28th of February, the Department of Research and Innovation hosted a Research Funding Workshop at the Onderstepoort Teaching and Development Centre for the academic staff, postdoctoral fellows, and postgraduate students from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, co-ordinated by Onderstepoort Postgraduate Student Association.

Abe Mathopa (Manager of the Research Capacity Development) presented on Early Career Researchers Support Initiatives, specifically National Research Foundation (NRF) funding opportunities such as nGAP, Thuthuka, and Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP), as well as some institutional funding such as the Research Development Programme funding and their application processes. He also walked everyone through the NRF Rating system and encouraged current Ph.D. students/Post-doctoral fellows, and staff to consider becoming NRF-rated researchers.

Leanne van Zyl (Post Graduate Scholarship Manager) gave a talk on the Postgraduate Scholarship Office’ Responsibilities and informed the postgraduate students about the potential funding opportunities (internal and external) and the various sites where they can look out for such
opportunities.

We would like to thank both Abe and Leanne, for taking the time to share their valuable insight with the attendees of the workshop.

Onboarding Programme 2024

The Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate studies, Prof Marinda Oosthuizen recently invited new and current postgraduate students to an Onboarding Programme at the Onderstepoort Teaching and Development Centre (OTDC) on the 15th and 16th of April. The Onboarding Programme was organized by Dr Monica van Niekerk, the postgraduate student advisor and the Onderstepoort Postgraduate Student Association (OP-PGSA). A series of informative sessions and activities were conducted over two days.

On Day 1, the workshop commenced with a warm welcome from the Deputy Dean Prof Marinda Oosthuizen followed by the introduction of support staff and the Onderstepoort Postgraduate Student Association. Prof Henriette van Heerden delivered a comprehensive presentation covering crucial topics such as research methodology, scientific misconduct, plagiarism, and provided some clarity on AI in academic writing. Mr Velly Nkosi then introduced students to ClickUP, a key online platform for academic resources, while Bianca Bezuidenhout introduced a soon to be launched Blackboard Module called OPPIHUB. The Dean, Prof Vinny Naidoo, shed light on the intricacies of research ethics, emphasizing the significance in academic research. Dr. Nicola Collins shared valuable insights into nurturing the supervisor-student relationship, underscoring its importance for successful postgraduate studies. The day concluded with a campus tour, engaging students in a fun activity of locating specific buildings on campus using clues.

On Day 2, students gathered in the library for an information session presented by Ms Myleen Oosthuizen and Ms Tertia Coetsee, familiarizing themselves with essential databases crucial for their research studies. Prof Geoff Fosgate offered a brief introduction to statistics. Ms Andria White facilitated a wellness session, demonstrating meditation techniques and stretches to promote mental and physical well-being among students and a few postgraduate students shared their personal experiences and challenges faced during their academic journey. Mr. Rowan Watson provided a security briefing to ensure students' safety when going out into the community. The day concluded with a relaxed atmosphere, as students enjoyed a braai and board games, providing social interaction after the enriching sessions.

Constructing a Masters or PhD Dissertation Workshop

The Department of Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education (DRI), along with Professor Marinda Oosthuizen, successfully hosted a three-day workshop titled "Constructing a Masters or PhD Dissertation: Conceptualising, Research and Structuring, Writing and Evaluation." The workshop was attened by 20 MSc and PhD candidates from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, was facilitated by the esteemed Dr. Erik Hofstee.

Highlights:

• Day 1: Conceptualizing research questions and proposals.
• Day 2: Conducting literature reviews and structuring chapters.
• Day 3: Miscellaneous essentials for successful completion.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Monica van Niekerk for organizing this impactful event and to Dr. Erik Hofstee for his invaluable guidance and support. This workshop has significantly contributed to the academic journey of our postgraduate students, equipping them with the necessary tools and confidence to excel in their dissertation endeavors.

SPSS Basics Workshop

On the 22nd June, the Jotello Soga Library hosted a SPSS Basics Workshop for the Masters and PhD students in the Faculty of Veterinary Science. This workshop was designed to equip postgraduate students with essential skills in using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science), a powerful software tool for statistical analysis in research. The workshop covered fundemental aspects of SPSS, ensuring that participants could confidently navigate and utilize the software for their resrch projects.

Key Topics covered:

• Introduction to SPSS:

  • Overview of SPSS interface and features.
  • Understanding the various menus and toolbars.

• Data Entry and Management:

  • Techniques for importing data.
  • Data cleaning and preparation.
  • Organizing data using variables and data sets.

• Descriptive Statistics:

  • Generating frequency tables, mean, median, and mode.
  • Creating and interpreting graphs

The OP PGSA would like to extend its gratitude to the Jotello Soga Library and the Research Commons for hosting an insightful SPSS Basic Workshop for postgraduate students. Special thanks to presenter, Lehlogonolo Tabana and organizer, Myleen Oosthuizen.