4. EVALUATION OF THE WORKSHOP BY PARTICIPANTS
An evaluation of the workshop was conducted immediately after the business session on December 11, 1998. The evaluation focussed on the general organization of the workshop, the main activities (which OSSREA should focus on in the future) and the problems that hinder research activities in Kenya.
The participants were drawn from: the academic staff in public and private universities and participants from public universities such as Kenyatta University, Moi University, Egerton University, University of Nairobi and Maseno University College. The private universities were University of Eastern Africa, Baraton University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
The participants were asked to indicate their source of information about the workshop. The majority of the participants, constituting 95%, indicated that they obtained the information from the Liaison Officer through direct contact followed by letter. The rest obtained the information from posters announcing the workshop.
Regarding their reaction on receiving invitation to attend the workshop, all the participants who responded indicated that they felt honoured by the invitation since the selection was competitive and that they had benefited a lot from the proceedings of the two-day workshop.
Regarding the venue of the workshop, which was the Maseno University College Board Room next to the Department of Kiswahili and African Languages, the participants were unanimous in their response that the venue was not only accessible but also very conducive to the academic exercise. Their feelings were justified because there was a university bus to transport participants to and fro the venue of the workshop.
Regarding such services as catering and public relations at the workshop venue, all the participants (100%) were satisfied with the quality of the food provided. All the participants were satisfied with the treatment they received from the secretariat, which was jointly manned by staff from Kenyatta University and Maseno University College. The participants also assessed the suitability of the workshop venue in terms of space and comfort. The majority, about 85% of the participants, found the room very spacious; all of them found the room comfortable.
The majority of the participants concurred that the workshop was very well organized. However, about 35% felt that the time allocated for presentation and discussion was rather short. It was also suggested in the future papers be distributed in advance - preferably before the workshop. The quality of the workshop papers was quite acceptable.
Regarding the time allocated to present and discuss papers, participants gave a wide array of responses. However, the majority of the participants, constituting 75%, considered the time allocated for paper presentation to be reasonable. The rest of the participants considered the duration to be adequate.
The participants were requested to suggest the main activities of OSSREA. The participants gave a wide range of responses such as:
· Enhance local networking with other researchers in university, industry and other research institutions;
· Initiate formation of professional associations in Education and Arts to be affiliated to OSSREA to improve on pertinent issues;
· Hold workshop regularly to discuss research papers;
· Solicit for more funding for research and postgraduate training in the country;
· Encourage and promote interest in the study of and research in the social science research and networking in Kenyan institutions;
· Encourage and promote quality scholarship in the region through publications and teaching.
The participants were requested to indicate some of the problems that hinder research activities. They cited such factors as:
· Failure to exhaust analysis of the collected data;
· Lack of funding;
· Little awareness of the current research topics that could attract funding;
· Lack of time because of too much teaching and marking at the public universities;
· Little access to current literature in the form of publications and the high cost of the available publications.
From the wide array of responses on various issues, it was evident that the Second Kenya OSSREA workshop was a success. Responses given thus far indicated that the organization and choice of venue was good, that the papers were of high quality and they were discussed thoroughly, and that the OSSREA-Kenya Chapter has a bright future in terms of popularising and actively participating in OSSREA activities in the region.
