Module 2, Session 2: Scholarly community of practice

[Kezia]

#2518

A scholar is someone who demonstrate potential, adeptness and a mindset for study. Scholarship to me relate to having or showing great knowledge or an inclination to academic study. To be active in the academic community means shared learning where a scholar collaborates with others in the field, sharing ideas and their expertise. Students can be introduced to the academic community through active learning, establishing expectations and clear goals and inspiring them through own practice to join the community.

[Xolane]

#2539

What might a PG supervisor’s support network provide? How can such a network be built?
an advisor’s support network might provide opportunities for PG students to have access tools required for their research such as laboratories and special instruments that may be needed. This will not only allow the students to analyse data and form collaborations but will also add to their skillset.

[Yakub]

#2552

I think a supervisor needs to expose his/her PG students to the academic community. This will make them appreciate the fact that there is more than just earning a PhD. I normally encourage my students to be attending Academic workshops and Conferences to ‘open’ their eyes to the other side of academia. This exposure would surely make them comprehend the diversity of knowledge and the importance of sharing and disseminating knowledge. In our department, we encourage our students to engage in academic discourses through social media outlets such WhatsApp.

[Rose Ramkat]

#2598

How can you introduce your students into this community? Is this part of the role of the supervisor?
It is the role of the supervisor to introduce the students to the academic community. This can be done by arranging for different activities based on the level/stage of studies of the students. For instance organising for workshops and seminars at an early stage where students get to make presentations and interact with the academic faculty in their institutions introduces them to the academic community.
Others include;Introducing them to make conference presentations of their work. Also the students can peer review each others publication inorder to learn the art of reviewing publications.

[Alta]

#2601

I absolutely agree with @Rose and others that it introducing students to their (the supervisor’s) scholarly community an practice is an important part of supervision. Involving students as co-authors to multi-author publication about topics that are a bit “bigger” than their individual theses, and exposing them conferences, workshops and societies are all useful ways that can help students develop. I also think that it is useful to encourage students to develop their own identity within those communities and seek out “sub” communities or other related communities where they can become involved (e.g. young scholars forums).

[Lilian Omondi]

#2607

What might a PG supervisor’s support network provide? How can such a network be built?

I think this network can provide mentorship opportunities from peers. Once a faculty member graduates to a supervisor, it would be nice to be able to stand on the shoulders of those who went ahead….so to say. This might of course include his/her own supervisors (depending on the kind or relationship that was developed). This mentorship relationship allows the supervisor to change their hat accordingly to that of mentor or mentee, depending on the circumstances

[George]

#2614

2. What does it mean to be active in an academic community?
In addition to Felix’s views, an active academic community could also be looked at in terms of the role of the academic community. Drawing from the metephor of forest and trees, we may look at an active acadenmic community as a community engaged in learning, teaching and doing research. This ultimately, should lead to not only to creation of knowledge but also application. An active academic community should therefore be continuously engaged in intelectual activities, and cultivate certain skill sets and create new solutions.

[George]

#2615

2. What does it mean to be active in an academic community?
In addition to Felix’s views, an active academic community could also be looked at in terms of the role of the academic community. Drawing from the metephor of forest and trees, we may look at an active acadenmic community as a community engaged in learning, teaching and doing research. This ultimately, should lead to not only to creation of knowledge but also application. An active academic community should therefore be continuously engaged in intelectual activities, and cultivate certain skill sets and create new solutions.

[Abosede]

#2616

What is a scholar in your view?
A scholar is a lifelong-learner who is actively and passionately involved in knowledge production, disseminate, articulation and meaningful contribution of such knowledge to theory and practice.

What does scholarship mean to you?
Scholarship in this context is the art of being a scholar – the rigour and substance of intellectual exchange.

What does it mean to be active in an academic community?
A scholar who active in an academic community would be abreast of the trends in the field, involved in joining and contributing to the conversation in the field, presenting their work at conferences, be willing to and passionate about mentoring upcoming scholars.

How can you introduce your students into this community? Is this part of the role of the supervisor? Yes
The supervisor should encourage students to present their work at leading conferences in the field, advise on how to make research projects relevant in the field, for example by providing guidance on the choice of appropriate theories and methodologies and where applicable and possible, by referring and sponsoring students for short research visits to collaborators/experts nationally and/or internationally.

What might a PG supervisor’s support network provide?
Support networks can improve capacity for context-specific insights and insider perspective into research projects, knowledge exchange, research collaborations, grant proposal development and research visits.

How can such a network be built?
Academic conferences and symposiums are great networking platforms.

Have you had experience of academic jealousies?
Oh yes!

What were the effects and was it resolved?

This happened during my PhD study and it caused a bit of distraction. I have since learnt that academic jealousy is almost inevitable in the academic journey and that there is a linear relationship between the ability to ‘find closure’ amid such jealousy and emotional intelligence.

How can you contribute to a more respectful and generous support network?
Through openness, willing to learn and share, listening with the heart, empathy, compassion and integrity and nurturing the same culture in the supervisory process.

[Mathew Kosgei]

#2622

What might a PG supervisor’s support network provide? How can such a network be built?

Supervisors give guidance and facilitate learning but do not have the monopoly of knowledge. The supervisor’s support network could provide more insights into the research question, propose new methodologies and approaches by sharing of codes. Through these kind of network, institutional collaboration can be established and hence opportunities for staff/student exchange programmes can be created that will enhance exposure. Such networks can be built through writing joint grant proposals and co-publishing.

[Rox]

#2660

What is a scholar in your view? What does scholarship mean to you?
In my view, a scholar is someone, who having been socialized in research and academic skills, continues being curious about an object of knowledge. A scholar is someone who is ethical and responsible for the consequences of their research agenda.
I understand scholarship as the systematic practice of research in a disciplinary field.

What does it mean to be active in an academic community?
Being active in an academic community is being part of the conversation of the field. For me, this implies to conduct research, publish, present in conferences, and be in conversation with colleagues and mentors.

How can you contribute to a more respectful and generous support network?
I learned from my mentors that good scholars were generous at heart, critical but kindness of the scholarly work, and humble of what they knew. I try to imitate their practices. For now, I think my main contribution to build supportive and generous network is by exposing to doc fellows how I became part of the field. As such, I try to be as transparent as I can in all what I do. Transparency brings the elements of sharing the information (about papers, conferences, how to develop a literature review) and decoding the keys of the field for those who are newcomers.

[Lucas]

#2663

Who is a scholar? To me, a scholar is somebody who has specialized in a small area within an academic discipline. The person is highly knowledgeable in the area of specialization but s/he still has a passion to seek for new knowledge in the field through scientific research. S/he is a critical thinker, has excellent communication and decision-making skills, is organized, is a good time manager, has a pleasant personality, strikes rapport fast with colleagues and is firm but fair. A scholar creates collaborations, publishes in scientific peer reviewed journals, participates in conferences and supports students to do the same. A scholar has a niche in pedagogical strategies in the area of specialization. Such a person can organize to deliver a successful lecture within short notice.

[Joseph]

#2669

I am in total agreement with what members have said. Let me just add a few comments on this
– A Scholar is a person who engages in academic and intellectual activities. He/she is constant and persistent in the pursued of knowledge in a particular field of interest. It involves reading, researching and writing academic papers as well as publishing books in the particular field. The individual is involved in scholarship.
– Scholarship then generally means learning or acquisition of knowledge through study which includes research in whatever method. Attending workshops and conferences is part of scholarship. it is in such forums that the scholar connects with academic communities.
– To be active in an academic community means engaging in research activities in collaboration with others. Membership in academic body, participating in conferences, postdoc research activities, subscription to journals and periodicals is part of being active in an academic community.
– Introducing PGs to an academic community may take place through mentorship. Part of it is for the supervisor to collaborate in writing papers
– We still have a big challenge in expanding networking with academic communities.

[Abosede]

#2670

Have you had experience of academic jealousies?
Oh yes!

What were the effects and was it resolved?

This happened during my PhD study both in the scholar-to-scholar and supervisor-to-supervisor contexts. I remember not being allowed to share my research study with selected faculty members and scholars because of rivalry. I was also caught in the web of being too conscious of whom to talk to, when and how to relate in my local community of practice. This situation limited intellectual exchange and collaboration and it caused a bit of distraction. I have since learnt that academic jealousy is almost inevitable in the academic journey and that there is a linear relationship between the ability to ‘find closure’ amid such jealousy and emotional intelligence.

[Abosede]

#2671

Have you had experience of academic jealousies?
Oh yes!

What were the effects and was it resolved?

This happened during my PhD study both in the scholar-to-scholar and supervisor-to-supervisor contexts. I remember not being allowed to share my research study with selected faculty members and scholars because of rivalry. I was also caught in the web of being too conscious of whom to talk to, when and how to relate in my local community of practice. This situation limited intellectual exchange and collaboration and it caused a bit of distraction. I have since learnt that academic jealousy is almost inevitable in the academic journey and that there is a linear relationship between the ability to ‘find closure’ amid such jealousy and emotional intelligence.

[Author]

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