Zambart hosted the SOFAR Supervisor Training from 4–5 March 2026 at its Lusaka offices, bringing together academic supervisors committed to strengthening postgraduate research mentorship in Zambia and across Southern Africa.
SOFAR, funded by EDCTP, is a regional network that supports early-career researchers through fellowships, mentorship, and targeted skills development. The initiative aims to build sustainable research capacity in Southern Africa by strengthening local leadership and promoting equitable research partnerships.
As part of this mission, the network places strong emphasis on capacity building for supervisors, recognizing that effective supervision is essential for the successful development of emerging researchers. The training forms part of SOFAR’s broader objective to equip academic supervisors across participating sub-Saharan African countries with the skills and tools required to guide MSc and PhD candidates effectively.
The custom-designed training programme focused on practical and context-appropriate approaches to postgraduate supervision, mentorship, and researcher development. It aimed to enhance supervision practices while supporting a stronger research ecosystem in Zambia.
During the two-day session, participants explored several key aspects of effective supervision, including:
- The supervision context in Southern Africa
- Modes and models of supervision
- Candidate and supervisor selection
- Roles and responsibilities of supervisors and candidates
- Managing the student–supervisor relationship
- Supervising the research process
- Planning the research journey, including proposal development and thesis structure
- Formative assessment and providing feedback to students
- Supervising postgraduate writing
- Supervising in an AI-enabled environment
- Summative assessment and applying examination criteria
- Nominating and appointing examiners
- Supporting early-career researcher development beyond the thesis
By strengthening supervisory capacity, the training contributes to building a supportive and effective research environment that enables early-career researchers to thrive and produce high-quality, impactful research.
Through initiatives such as the SOFAR Supervisor Training, Zambart continues to support regional efforts to develop skilled researchers and strengthen the research in Zambia and across Southern Africa.