On October 24, 2022, a US professor and qualitative researcher, Dr. Safary Wa-Mbaleka, visited the SKSU ACCESS Campus to gather data on the qualitative research practices in the institution. Faculty and students of the Graduate School served as participants in the semi-structured interviews. Dr. Wa-Mbaleka is an author of various books on qualitative research and a former President of the Asian Qualitative Research Association. He is conducting a dissertation Embracing the culture of qualitative research: A Grounded Theory of Qualitification for his 3 rd doctorate, PhD in Qualitative Research in UNICAF University, Zambia Campus.
In view of transnational collaboration and linkages, the Graduate School, headed by Dr. Mildred Accad, facilitated the activity. It commenced with a courtesy visit to Pres. Samson Molao, represented by Vice-Pres. for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jesusa Ortuoste. Then, interviews were conducted with the professors and graduate students. Then Dr. Wa-Mbaleka offered a presentation regarding his institution, Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and an online lecture on the model of qualitative research. Dr. Wa-Mbaleka and Dr. Accad look forward to future collaboration and partnerships in the Graduate School, especially in strengthening qualitative research as one of the students’ preferences in conducting various studies in the institution.
