Regional Capacity Building in Scientific Writing

EASTECO, in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela African Institutions of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) piloted a scientific writing training in a write-shop. The aim of the training was to develop capacity of Master’s and Ph.D. students, and retool academic staff in writing manuscripts for publication in quality peer reviewed journals and for presentation at conferences and to enable participants to effectively communicate to various professional audiences. This program intends to sustainably develop capacity in scientific writing within the region through face to face training workshops as well as using the massive open online (MOOC) platform.

The write-shop guided participants on speedy and effective ways of developing quality scientific manuscripts; extraction of a manuscript from a thesis or project report; effective review and utilization of literature; techniques of reviewing manuscripts; research and publishing ethics; impact factor and other journal assessment indices; ‘and strategies for mounting and presenting orally.

The program is currently being implemented within the region in collaboration with the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP).