KIU Strengthens Doctoral Supervision with Innovation and Ethics

By Hattie Wright 

KIU, Main Campus - On Monday, August 10, 2026, Kampala International University (KIU), through the Directorate of Higher Degrees and Research (DHDR) in collaboration with the Directorate of Research, Innovations, Consultancy, and Extensions (DRICE), held a capacity-building meeting with doctoral committee members.

The session, chaired by Dr. Willy Turyahikayo, Deputy Director of DHDR, focused on enhancing the quality of research supervision for both master’s and doctoral students.

The meeting underscored the importance of equipping supervisors with advanced skills, fostering consistency in mentorship, and aligning supervision practices with institutional standards. 

Prof. Charles Waiswa, Director of DHDR, emphasized the need to model approaches that help students complete their studies within the designated timeframe. He highlighted challenges such as grounding learners in research fundamentals, clarifying topic selection, and strengthening sampling frameworks.

Prof. Waiswa also urged committee members to actively participate in hearings and provide guidance across departments, stressing that KIU has sufficient expertise to support students if teamwork and interdepartmental collaboration are strengthened.

Prof. Ngoma Muhammed, the Vice Chancellor, re-echoed the benefits of adopting an online supervision platform funded by the European Union. “It is not about age but commitment. With a team of professors like you, we should always aim higher,” he said.

Prof. Mundu Mustafa (DVC Finance and Administration) noted that research should result in tangible products, adding that KIU’s goal is to graduate about 100 PhDs annually. He emphasized the role of the Research Ethics Committee (REC) in protecting participants, assessing risks and benefits, reviewing informed consents, and monitoring approved research.

“As we integrate AI in our research supervision, we shall ensure that a student designs a project or product before they graduate,” he said.

Prof. Willy presented the graduation process and encouraged members to contribute ideas during the ongoing curriculum review, particularly for the postgraduate handbook. Dr. Jacob Ashibi, DVC Academic Affairs, emphasized building character in students to ensure quality outcomes, noting that graduates should fully understand the meaning of their research. In addition, Prof. Regina Ejemot-Nwadiaro, DVC RICE, underscored the goal of enhancing KIU’s global ranking and reputation.

In the Q&A session, members raised concerns about external examiners questioning candidates on areas not taught at KIU and proposed increasing the number of supervisors per candidate to strengthen guidance.

In conclusion, the doctoral committee members reaffirmed KIU’s commitment to producing impactful research and graduating at least 100 PhDs annually.