Internationally acclaimed publishing house, Elsevier in conjunction with the Midlands State University, Library Services Department, has hosted a one-day workshop for researchers, aimed at enhancing the research skills of the institution’s academic staff.
In his key note address, Midlands State University Pro Vice Chancellor (Business Development and Administration, Professor Kadmiel Wekwete implored the University’s academics to draw lessons from the workshop, noting that the institution was honoured to receive colleagues from Elsevier for the second time inside two years.
Professor Wekwete further noted that the University would continue to tap into Elsevier’s experience in research and publishing while also seeking ways to mitigate the costs incurred by the institution in accessing the publisher’s online resources.
Elsevier’s account manager for Southern Africa, Karen Metcalf took the workshop participants through Elsevier’s online resources including Science Direct and SCOPUS and indicated that it was the aim of the publishers to provide tools that would enable researchers to accelerate research excellence. Ms. Metcalf emphasized that usage of Elsevier’s online resources by Midlands State University staff had increased by three hundred percent in the past year, a noteworthy achievement.
Addressing the participants, Elsevier Customer Consultant (Research Management) Lucia Schoombe highlighted some of the parameters used in World University rankings and emphasized the need to leverage SCOPUS to enhance the institution’s research performance and output.
Key University personnel including the Librarian, Ms. N.P Chibanda, the Acting Pro Vice Chancellor, Research and Academic Affairs, Dr. A. Viriri, Deans of University Faculties, Directors of the University’s Departments and members of staff attended the one-day workshop.