ACADEMICIANS from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at the Open University of Tanzania have been urged to publish quality study materials for Open and Distance Learning (ODL).
Professor Emmanuel Babyegeya made the statement during a workshop that was attended by academic members from different social sciences fields at the OUT temporary headquarters in Dar salaam this week.
He said that preparation of quality materials from the scratch to the publication stage is an intensive process with a number of steps.
“The preparation of study materials is a knowledge- based team work which involves lecturers who write the material, review teams and copy editors,” said Professor Babyegeya.
He underscored that some stages like copy review and editing are ignored in preparation of study materials but they are crucial in ensuring that the study materials are of good quality and understandable to the learners.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr Dunlop Ochieng said the training would capacitate the participants with skills and knowledge on study materials, books and academic papers writing which is one among their core functions in their daily responsibilities.
“I am sure after this training my colleagues will start writing and publishing academic papers, books and study materials”, said Dr Ochieng.
Principal Human Resource Management Officer, Nuru Abdallah said the capacity building is an outcome of the faculty members’ needs assessment which showed that there was an urgent need for study materials, academic papers and book writing skills.
A three day training was organised by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and involved more than 30 academic staff from the Open University of Tanzania Headquarters, Kinondoni and Ilala Regional Centres.
