Capacity Building Training for Journal Managers and Editors at HU.
Office of Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer, in collaboration with NORAD ICP-V Project at Hawassa University, has organized a capacity building training for members of HU-Journals Managing and Editorial Board.
Dr.Tafesse Matewos, the VPRTT at HU, stated in his opening speech that Hawassa University has been diligently engaged in producing educated man power, conducting multilateral problem-solving researches and delivering meaningful community services which have contributed to the overall national growth of the country since it’s establishment. In line with this, he noted that the university has undertaken more than 10,000 research works and published the outputs on nationally and internationally accredited journals over the last 24 years. However, he underscored that the research output and publication levels are less than the expectations for a first-generation university poised to specialize in research very soon.
While presenting the status of HU journals, Dr. Rahmeto Abebe, Director of RPD pointed out that the academic staff of HU have undertaken research on a wide variety of projects spanning from small scale disciplinary to large scale multidisciplinary initiatives. He remarked that 163 government sponsored research projects are undergoing, 498 research outputs are published on several internationally accredited journals, and 25 others are published on HU journals, just this year. In his presentation, the director emphasized that rigorous work is needed to sustain the two nationally accredited HU journals and strengthen the remaining eight which appear to have big differences in their performance so far.
Dr. Solomon Benor, Lead Executive of Research and Technology Transfer at MoE, presented the international, regional and national trends in journal accreditation process as well as the challenges and lessons learned from the process at FDRE's Ministry of Education.
There was a warm discussion following the presentations whereby participants raised questions and concerns, and also forwarded constructive comments for the betterment of research undertakings, culture of publication, academic integrity and better contributions to the national development at large. Dr. Solomon and Dr. Tafesse have also reflected on the points and underlined critical measures to be taken as a way forward.
More than 50 participants composed of college deans, research associate deans, journal editors and managers at HU have participated in the one day training held at the African Union Hall, HU.
