Chikezie Uzuegbunam, Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Managing the PhD Process (June 2017 Doctoral Schools)

     To say that my expectations were exceeded would be an understatement. I had the opportunity to learn from the best facilitators and scholars in various fields who, for one week, drilled, educated and exposed us to wide-ranging issues and solutions pertaining to the PhD programme. What fascinated me the most was that there were practical steps and insights from different contexts to buttress what was being taught and communicated.
     Meeting and networking with other doctoral students from the continent has also restored my confidence in this journey. I have learnt that I am not alone on this journey and that I can tap into a wide variety of support and resources to make this dream come true. I am a much better PhD student!
     Thank you, PADA, and for the tour that wrapped up the program nicely!

Flora Augusta Pufaa, Chemistry Department, University of Education in Winneba, Ghana
Presentation Skills & Managing the PhD Process (June 2017 Doctoral Schools)

     I was introduced to the University of Ghana Pan African Doctoral Academy by my Head of Department who made attendance compulsory for all PhD students. Starting the Doctoral program was a daunting task for me. I didn't really know where to begin or what questions to ask being a first-year student. The PADA course covered a lot of the doctoral process and the information was delivered in concise chunks that were easy to absorb. The structure of the program was clear and logical and I personally benefited a lot from it.
     But it wasn't just about the new knowledge. The main benefits came from doing assignments, receiving individual feedback, and interacting with other participants of different nationalities. I didn't just learn how to go about my Doctoral program—the "what " and "why " also became much clearer.
     Thank you for organizing this program and I look forward to attending it again.

Eugene Darko, Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana
Managing the PhD Process (June 2017 Doctoral Schools)

     A friend told me about the impact of the program upon her life as a doctoral student about a year ago and so this was an opportunity for me add value to myself. All along I have been waiting for a program that would help me to understand the PhD process well.
     The course I took for the one week program was excellent. I learnt about how to manage my time well as a PhD student. The course I took helped me also to understand every aspect of thesis writing, conducting a good literature review, searching literature using databases and using bibliographic managers such as Mendeley. If not for time and other issues, I would advise that all PhD students participate in a PADA course every year.

Peter Asare-Nuamah Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pan African University, Cameroon
Qualitative Research Methodology & Managing the PhD Process (June 2017 Alumnus)

In the era of technological advancement and information explosion, there's no excuse to say I did not hear or see, because the Internet has come to stay. I came across PADA while surfing the net. As an alumnus of the University of Ghana, I am always thrilled to check on the UG Web page because there is always something new; that is how come I got to know about the University of Ghana’s Pan-Africa Doctoral Academy (PADA).

I enrolled in Managing the PhD Process and Qualitative Research Methodology. These two modules were packed with experience, creativity and innovation in undertaking a doctoral program, particularly in a resource-constrained environment. I was overwhelmed by the methodology, pedagogy and the skills and experience of faculties that all combined to bring theoretical aspects of doing research into practice. Like Kaplan (1964) said "a difference without a difference is no difference" and PADA really made that difference in my quest to do quality research.

Obasanjo Oyedele, Department of Communication Studies, Bowen University Iwo, Nigeria

I successfully completed my doctoral study on January 31, 2017 when I defended my thesis. I am grateful for the support, guidance and constructive criticism I received from PADA when I attended the training. I can say that the focus and clear understanding that led to the completion of my doctoral study within three years and six months came partly from PADA.

I was a Tutorial Assistant in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan throughout my doctoral study and I am now a lecturer in one of the private universities in Nigeria.