An Inquiry into Experiences of Supervisors and Supervisees in Conducting Research Supervision in Higher Education Institutions in Eswatini

Phumuzani Mpofu ORCID iD & Benkosi Madlela ORCID iD

Issue: Vol.5  No.8 Issue Article 2 pp.1454-1473
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2024582 | Published online 2nd August, 2024
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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The importance of research in institutions of higher education stretches beyond enabling the student to gain a qualification. Students’ research outputs should contribute to the body of knowledge, hence the need for quality research supervision in institutions. This study thus explored the experiences of supervisors and supervisees in research supervision. An interpretivist research paradigm and a qualitative research approach were used. Data was collected from purposively sampled participants using interviews and focus group discussions. Findings revealed that the supervisor’s role is to guide and support the student step by step throughout the whole research process beginning from problem identification up to data collection and compilation of the final research report. The student’s role is to take full responsibility for their own research from start to finish. Findings showed that supervisors were frustrated by students who lacked basic research knowledge and students who plagiarised previous studies. Students were frustrated by incompetent supervisors who abused their powers and forced them to change topics to accommodate their shortcomings, delayed with feedback and unconstructive feedback. The study recommended that institutions should engage qualified and competent research supervisors, train supervisors and supervisees and review their research policies and incorporate modern research trends, support students with resources to conduct research and publish their research outputs, and supervisors should embrace modern technology in research supervision.

Keywords: Experiences, Supervisors, Supervisees, Research

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Dr. Phumuzani Mpofu has published articles in DHET accredited journals. His research focuses on educational psychology and guidance and counseling fields.

Dr. Benkosi Madlela has published book chapters and articles in the DHET accredited journals. He is also a peer reviewer. His publications focus on the use of technology in education, inclusive education, curriculum reform through indigenisation as well as open distance and online education. He is registered with the South African Council of Educators (SACE).

Mpofu, Phumuzani and Benkosi Madlela, “An Inquiry into Experiences of Supervisors and Supervisees in Conducting Research Supervision in Higher Education Institutions in Eswatini,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 5, no.8 (2024): 1454-1473. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.2024582

© 2024 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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