Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe
Background: Women continue to be underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), globally including in Africa and, indeed in Zimbabwe. The gender gap, absence of formal research mentorship and the male-dominated academic culture common among low- and middle-in...
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2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/868 |
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| author | Danai T. Zhou Celia M.J. Matyanga Munyaradzi Madhombiro Vinie Kouamou Precious K. Hove Sarudzai Muyambo Elizabeth Gori Fortunate Farirai Betty Mukuwapasi Taona E. Mudhluli Getrude D. Gwenzi Enetia D. Bobo Jenipher Chigerwe Justin Chirima Ratidzo Chirimo Tonny P. Tauro Mellisa B. Sagandira Winnie Y. Mozirandi Natsayi Chiwaye Hardlife Rambwawasvika Violet P. Dudu Winnet E. Chipato Yvonne O. Nyararai Faith W. Kadzviti Nomagugu Ndlovu Upenyu N. Mupfiga Hardlife Muhoyi Runyararo Mano |
| author_facet | Danai T. Zhou Celia M.J. Matyanga Munyaradzi Madhombiro Vinie Kouamou Precious K. Hove Sarudzai Muyambo Elizabeth Gori Fortunate Farirai Betty Mukuwapasi Taona E. Mudhluli Getrude D. Gwenzi Enetia D. Bobo Jenipher Chigerwe Justin Chirima Ratidzo Chirimo Tonny P. Tauro Mellisa B. Sagandira Winnie Y. Mozirandi Natsayi Chiwaye Hardlife Rambwawasvika Violet P. Dudu Winnet E. Chipato Yvonne O. Nyararai Faith W. Kadzviti Nomagugu Ndlovu Upenyu N. Mupfiga Hardlife Muhoyi Runyararo Mano |
| author_sort | Danai T. Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Women continue to be underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), globally including in Africa and, indeed in Zimbabwe. The gender gap, absence of formal research mentorship and the male-dominated academic culture common among low- and middle-income countries makes scientific growth dire for Africa- and Zimbabwe-based female science researchers.
Aim: To address some of these challenges, a group of researchers (90% female) created the African Excellence in Research Initiative (AFRIESEARCHI) Zimbabwe Gender in STEMM Mentorship Programme.
Setting: Public universities and research institutions in Zimbabwe.
Methods: The team crafted a research mentorship curriculum, informed by stakeholder engagement and needs assessment, and piloted it from October 2021 to December 2022.
Results: The inaugural 12-month programme capacitated 30 members (80% female) with skills for research. The participants’ mean age was 42.5 (6.9) years, with minimum qualifications of Master’s degrees. Specifically, 5 (17%) members either registered for or graduated with doctoral degrees, 14 (50%) members completed visiting fellowships. Five individual projects were awarded grants all totalling over $300 000.00, while this mentorship project was shortlisted for the Free STEM Fund award (€50 000.00) for the 2022–2023 cycle. Half of shortlisted team members were selected for the competitive Zimbabwean Emerging Faculty Development Program. Almost 90% of participants were satisfied with their mentorship experience, although resources and time were needed.
Conclusion: Despite challenges, the team resolved the need to prioritise formalised research mentorship, within the Zimbabwe setting.
Contribution: Such efforts will enhance scientific growth for women (and indeed all academic researchers) in the sciences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c6d73410901949f589f8cfefbc4ac0eb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
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| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-c6d73410901949f589f8cfefbc4ac0eb2025-08-20T02:05:27ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-05-01161e1e1210.4102/jphia.v16i1.868860Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in ZimbabweDanai T. Zhou0Celia M.J. Matyanga1Munyaradzi Madhombiro2Vinie Kouamou3Precious K. Hove4Sarudzai Muyambo5Elizabeth Gori6Fortunate Farirai7Betty Mukuwapasi8Taona E. Mudhluli9Getrude D. Gwenzi10Enetia D. Bobo11Jenipher Chigerwe12Justin Chirima13Ratidzo Chirimo14Tonny P. Tauro15Mellisa B. Sagandira16Winnie Y. Mozirandi17Natsayi Chiwaye18Hardlife Rambwawasvika19Violet P. Dudu20Winnet E. Chipato21Yvonne O. Nyararai22Faith W. Kadzviti23Nomagugu Ndlovu24Upenyu N. Mupfiga25Hardlife Muhoyi26Runyararo Mano27Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Business, Faculty of Arts, Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology, MaronderaDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Bindura University of Science Education, BinduraDepartment of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareOrganisation of Women in Science for the Developing World, Zimbabwe National Chapter, HarareDepartment of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, North-West University, PotchefstroomDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Midlands State University, GweruDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgDepartment of Ecological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bindura University of Science Education, BinduraDepartment of Fuels and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, Midlands State University, GweruDepartment of Mathematics and Computer Science, Great Zimbabwe University, MasvingoDepartment of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Soil Science and Productivity, Faculty of Agriculture, Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology, MaronderaDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Midlands State University, GweruDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chinhoyi University of Technology, ChinhoyiDepartment of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Soil Science, Zimbabwe Sugar Association Experiment Station, ChiredziDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bindura University of Science Education, BinduraDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Harare Institute of Technology, HarareDepartment of Biology/Biochemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, National University of Science and Technology, BulawayoDepartment of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Science, Midlands State University, GweruDepartment of Enviromental Sciences, Faculty of Geography, Midlands State University, GweruDepartment of Geography Geospatial Sciences and Earth Observation, Faculty of Geography, University of Zimbabwe, HarareDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Sciences, University of Namibia, WindhoekBackground: Women continue to be underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), globally including in Africa and, indeed in Zimbabwe. The gender gap, absence of formal research mentorship and the male-dominated academic culture common among low- and middle-income countries makes scientific growth dire for Africa- and Zimbabwe-based female science researchers. Aim: To address some of these challenges, a group of researchers (90% female) created the African Excellence in Research Initiative (AFRIESEARCHI) Zimbabwe Gender in STEMM Mentorship Programme. Setting: Public universities and research institutions in Zimbabwe. Methods: The team crafted a research mentorship curriculum, informed by stakeholder engagement and needs assessment, and piloted it from October 2021 to December 2022. Results: The inaugural 12-month programme capacitated 30 members (80% female) with skills for research. The participants’ mean age was 42.5 (6.9) years, with minimum qualifications of Master’s degrees. Specifically, 5 (17%) members either registered for or graduated with doctoral degrees, 14 (50%) members completed visiting fellowships. Five individual projects were awarded grants all totalling over $300 000.00, while this mentorship project was shortlisted for the Free STEM Fund award (€50 000.00) for the 2022–2023 cycle. Half of shortlisted team members were selected for the competitive Zimbabwean Emerging Faculty Development Program. Almost 90% of participants were satisfied with their mentorship experience, although resources and time were needed. Conclusion: Despite challenges, the team resolved the need to prioritise formalised research mentorship, within the Zimbabwe setting. Contribution: Such efforts will enhance scientific growth for women (and indeed all academic researchers) in the sciences.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/868africagendermentorshippilotprojectresearchstemm |
| spellingShingle | Danai T. Zhou Celia M.J. Matyanga Munyaradzi Madhombiro Vinie Kouamou Precious K. Hove Sarudzai Muyambo Elizabeth Gori Fortunate Farirai Betty Mukuwapasi Taona E. Mudhluli Getrude D. Gwenzi Enetia D. Bobo Jenipher Chigerwe Justin Chirima Ratidzo Chirimo Tonny P. Tauro Mellisa B. Sagandira Winnie Y. Mozirandi Natsayi Chiwaye Hardlife Rambwawasvika Violet P. Dudu Winnet E. Chipato Yvonne O. Nyararai Faith W. Kadzviti Nomagugu Ndlovu Upenyu N. Mupfiga Hardlife Muhoyi Runyararo Mano Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe Journal of Public Health in Africa africa gender mentorship pilot project research stemm |
| title | Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Piloting a research mentorship programme in a low-resource setting in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | piloting a research mentorship programme in a low resource setting in zimbabwe |
| topic | africa gender mentorship pilot project research stemm |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/868 |
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