When we think about someone pursuing a PhD, we can easily picture the research itself. We imagine months – and often years – spent attending classes, reading journal articles, designing studies, collecting and analysing data, and eventually writing a dissertation. These are the visible milestones of doctoral study, and understandably so. They are, after all, what a PhD is ultimately assessed on.
Less visible are the skills that make that journey possible: building a productive relationship with a supervisor, managing the uncertainty that comes with research, finding mentors and peers who understand the journey, looking after your wellbeing through years of demanding work, balancing research with career and family responsibilities, and beginning to plan for life after the PhD long before graduation.
The Research We See and the Skills We Don’t
Increasingly, universities recognise that these skills are just as important to the doctoral journey as technical research competence. Often called generic or transferable skills, they include communication, collaboration, leadership, problem-solving and critical thinking. Rather than assuming these abilities develop naturally through research, many doctoral programmes now create deliberate opportunities for students to strengthen them alongside their academic training.
This was the focus of this year’s IDeAL Generic Skills Training, held on Friday, 3rd July 2026, at the Mnarani Beach Hotel in Kilifi. The programme brought together doctoral fellows from KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Strathmore University, Pwani University and partner institutions. Together, they stepped away from research methods to explore the often-overlooked aspects of doctoral training and preparation.
In attendance was a delegation from the Strathmore PRISM Centre, led by Centre Director Prof. Francis Wafula, himself one of the inaugural IDeAL doctoral fellows. He was joined by Brenda Bunyasi, PRISM Centre Manager; Dr. Noelle Orata, Hub Lead for the Health Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Partnerships (HIPE) Hub; Dr. Sammy Masibo, Hub Lead for the Mixed Health Systems Regulation and Governance (MHSRG) Hub; and Dosila Ogira, Doctoral Fellow in Healthcare Management.
Participants noted that one of the most valuable aspects of the training was simply having the opportunity to press pause. Doctoral research demands sustained attention to rigorous tasks, leaving little room to step back and reflect on the wider journey. Bringing together fellows from different institutions and at different stages of study made space for conversations that are often overlooked in the rush to meet deadlines.
The Questions Every Doctoral Fellow Faces
The day began with remarks from IDeAL Programme Director Dr. Sam Kinyajui, who, together with Dr. Cheryl Andisi, IDeAL Programme Manager at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, facilitated the day’s discussions. Participants then settled in for sessions that followed the doctoral journey from beginning to end. Each phase explored a question that the doctoral fellow faces in the course of their journey:
- How do I navigate my PhD? (Student–supervisor relationships)
- How do I cope personally? (Mental wellbeing)
- How do I balance my training expenses with other financial responsibilities? (Financial wellness)
- What happens after I receive my doctorate? (Career development)
- How do I become someone others want to work with? (Leadership and teamwork)
- How do I stay connected? (Networking and peer relationships)
Initial conversations centred on one of the most influential relationships in any doctoral journey: the student-supervisor relationship. It is a partnership that spans several years and often shapes the course of a doctoral fellow’s journey. Experienced researchers and IDeAL programme alumni shared practical lessons on managing expectations, communicating openly and making the most of supervision, while participants reflected on the different experiences they had encountered in their work.
Hearing from researchers who had already completed their PhDs was particularly encouraging. Rather than presenting polished success stories, speakers spoke candidly about inevitable setbacks, moments of uncertainty, and the difficulty of balancing research with careers and family life. It was a reminder that struggling with a PhD is not unusual; it is simply part of the process.
That spirit of openness carried into Prof. Wafula’s remarks. Speaking as an inaugural IDeAL fellow, he encouraged participants to look beyond the day’s activities and invest in the relationships they were building with one another. The people gathered in the room, he observed, could one day become collaborators, mentors and professional partners. He reminded participants that the networks formed during doctoral study often prove just as valuable as the qualifications themselves.
Preparing for Life Beyond the Dissertation
The afternoon sessions turned towards preparing for life beyond the dissertation. Completing a PhD, participants were reminded, is only one milestone in a much longer professional journey. Becoming an effective researcher also means learning to sustain yourself, make informed decisions and work well with others.
Dr. Neema Mturi, Consultant Paediatrician and Head of Clinical Service at KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, acknowledged the mental and emotional demands of doctoral research. Long timelines, changing research directions, competing professional and family responsibilities, and the pressure to produce high-quality work can all take their toll. Rather than viewing wellbeing as separate from research, participants were encouraged to see their personal wellbeing as the foundation that enables them to remain productive, resilient and engaged throughout the doctoral journey.
Financial wellness was another topic that struck a chord with participants. Pursuing a PhD often means balancing demanding research with careers, family responsibilities and other financial obligations. Discussions on financial planning, investment and the realities of black tax encouraged fellows to think beyond immediate expenses and begin planning for long-term financial stability.
Career development challenged participants to think beyond the dissertation long before graduation. One message resonated particularly strongly: don’t allow completing a PhD to become an anti-climax. A doctorate is a significant achievement, but it should also open the door to new opportunities rather than mark the end of the journey. Participants were encouraged to remain open to careers in research, policy, programme management, government and the private sector, recognising that the skills developed during doctoral study are valuable well beyond academia.
During final session, Educational Psychologist and Research Consultant at Pwani University, Dr. Sella Lusweti, brought the day’s themes together through an interactive discussion on leadership and team management. Practical exercises highlighted the importance of communication, trust and collaboration – qualities that increasingly define successful research environments.
Building Researchers for the Future
Looking back across the programme, a common thread emerged. While each session explored a different aspect of doctoral life, together they painted a broader picture of what it means to become a researcher. Technical expertise remains essential, but so too do communication, leadership, teamwork and the ability to build meaningful professional relationships.
For the Strathmore PRISM Centre delegation, the workshop offered an opportunity, not only to learn from experienced researchers and peers, but also to strengthen relationships within a growing network of health systems researchers.
As universities continue to rethink doctoral education, programmes such as the IDeAL Generic Skills Training remind us that a PhD is about far more than producing a dissertation. It is about developing researchers who can communicate ideas, build lasting professional relationships, lead multidisciplinary teams and continue learning throughout their careers. Those qualities may not appear on the title page of a thesis, but they often determine how far the research – and the researcher – will ultimately go.
