Nine students of the University of The Gambia (UTG), have been selected to attend Scholarly Writing and Research Methodology Workshop in Freetown, Sierra Leone, organised by Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).

The workshop will take place from Monday May 12 - 16, at the conference room of the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown, Sierra. The UTG students will leave for Freetown on Saturday, May 10.

According to a press release from UTG, the selection of the students is testimony of the quality of postgraduate studies in the university and the seriousness of the students. "This international workshop is a Special Session workshop for Mano River Union Countries comprising Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia."

The selection of UTG students followed an announcement of a CODESRIA programme of training for scholarly writing and research methodologies targeting postgraduate students. "Nine UTG students were selected on the basis of a submission of a dossier."

During this one week period UTG students will be drilled by seasoned professors on the techniques of writing scholarly papers, theses and dissertations. The workshop, which will complement the efforts of UTG professors, workshop organised against a background of the realisation that African universities are increasingly facing pressing

challenges to imbue the younger generation of academic staff and research students that populate them with the methodological and writing skills they need to excel in their learning, teaching and research.

The following persons shall grace the occasion in Freetown: Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, the executive secretary of CODESRIA; Francis Nyamnjoh, the director of Publications, CODESRIA; Professor Aiah Gbakima, the vice chancellor, University of Sierra Leone; Professor Yekini Alghli, the vice chancellor, Njala University; Professor Ismail Rashid of Fourah Bay College; Professor Clara Korkor Fayorsey of the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra; Professor Joe A. D. Alie of Fourah Bay College; Professor Ibrahim Abdullah of the University of Sierra Leone; Professor Nicodemus Awasom of University of The Gambia; and Professor Magbaily Fyle.

The nine UTG students and a professor will be leaving the Gambia for Freetown on 10 May and would return on 17 May 2008. The entire cost of travel and the workshop is borne by CODESRIA.