Sarah Ater, a PhD student in Development Studies at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), recently returned from an enriching four-month semester abroad at the University of Szczecin in Poland. Sponsored through the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Programme under a full scholarship, Sarah joined the university’s Doctoral School from March to July 2025, where she undertook seven multidisciplinary units and earned straight As in all of them.
Her coursework covered areas such as Paper Writing, Digital Media in Academic Education, Multivariate Methods in Scientific Research, Quantitative Methods in Scientific Research, Creativity in Science, Change Management, and Individual Research Plan. The program was designed to equip doctoral candidates with a wide range of academic and professional competencies, enabling them to approach research with both depth and versatility.
Reflecting on her time in Poland, Sarah shared how the experience broadened her academic perspective. She spoke highly of the student support systems, the extensive library databases, and the strong academic networks she was able to form. She also had the opportunity to attend and participate in several conferences, which further enriched her doctoral journey.
In a conversation with Dr Madiha Salim, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mr Martin Odhiambo, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, and Dr Chilimo Wanyenda, TUM Librarian and the contact person for the Poland exchange, Sarah described the experience as both eye-opening and a valuable learning opportunity. During the meeting, she also presented her academic certificates and official transcripts from the University of Szczecin, marking the formal completion of her semester abroad. She went on to explain how the program had deepened her appreciation for qualitative research, particularly its role in understanding people and informing effective policymaking. She noted that insight from qualitative data was critical, creating meaning through the deep data approach employed. This area is often underexplored in Kenya, where academic focus tends to lean more toward natural sciences and quantitative methods.
Alongside her studies, Sarah also submitted a research manuscript during the 5th edition of the International Multidisciplinary Conference of Doctoral Students hosted at the university. Her paper, titled “Fishing Security: Collaborative Paths to Peace in Marine Fisheries,” highlighted the importance of social justice and development in addressing fisheries conflict.
Dr Madiha congratulated Sarah on her academic excellence and applauded her for making the most of the international opportunity. Dr Chilimo noted how rare such opportunities are for scholars in the Humanities and expressed optimism that more engagements of this nature would follow. Mr Martin Odhiambo commended Sarah for representing both the School and the University with distinction.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences proudly celebrates Sarah’s achievement as a powerful example of the impact of global academic exposure. Her journey underscores the importance of international collaboration in shaping dynamic researchers, broadening academic perspectives, and contributing to research that can influence meaningful development at home and beyond.
