Lucy Kiruthu Testimony: My Doctoral Journey with DAEA
Pursuing a doctorate is described as enduring daring adventure by Ghanaian scholar Lailah Akita. This year, I will be graduating with a Doctoral in Business administration (DBA). I confirm that my doctoral journey has been puzzling yet stimulating and fulfilling. The journey has had its challenges and its joys too. I have no single word or phrase to describe the experience I have had for the last four years.
I take this opportunity to sincerely acknowledge the support I have received from the Doctoral Association of Eastern Africa (DAEA) in the last two years. Both my fellow doctoral students and the professors at DAEA have been a strong pillar during the doctoral journal. Being part of DAEA has made my doctoral journey less strenuous.
I wish to specially point out that attending the DAEA colloquiums and retreats has been very beneficial. In addition to broadening my thinking, clarifying many aspects of the doctoral research, these forums have grown my networks. I have especially gained expansive knowledge on statistical analysis and on publishing. The network of professors with various strengths has been very useful as most of them were just a call away.
The opportunity to make presentations about my research during the DAEA forums has also been helpful. I was able to gain deep insights that I believe have made my research much better.
Finally I have received a lot of encouragement from the DAEA executive director. When the going seemed tough and I felt like giving up she propped me up.
Dr Francis Mambo Gatumo Testimony: My Doctoral Journey with DAEA
I am a holder of Doctorate of Business Administration, from California Miramar University (in United States of America (USA)) because of assistance and guidance that I received from Doctoral Association of Eastern Africa (DAEA). I am greatly indebted to DAEA, its officials and the members.
I enrolled for DBA in California Miramar University in 2013. I completed the course work in March 2016 and embarked on the DBA dissertation. The dissertation process was tedious. However, the presence, support and continued guidance by DAEA made the journey easy.
DAEA organized colloquia, which provided the platform for DBA students to practice oral presentations. The colloquia availed DAEA officials, members of secretariat and renowned scholars to review the students work. I greatly treasured these DAEA colloquia because they gave me the courage and direction to prepare both my proposal and final defense. Indeed, I had no surprises at both proposal and final defense.
DAEA offer its services to scholars at all universities in Eastern Africa. The scope is long and therefore they need funds to carry out their mandate. The charges for their events were only for refreshments and upkeep. Therefore, availability of funds would enable DAEA to expand its activities to cater for larger number of DBA students.
I would have taken longer to complete my DBA if the assistance of DAEA was not forthcoming. A number of my classmates are struggling because they were not exposed to the DAEA assistance. DAEA, creation filled a void that exists for PhD students. In public universities, the PHD programs take 7 years, on average because the students do not receive consistent advice from their supervisors. Therefore, the presence of DAEA fill the gap.
Doctoral students, DAEA is a warm home for you. You will need not walk doctoral journey alone.
Dr Francis Mambo Gatumo.
United States International University – USIU-Kenya
