Graduate Research in Animal Sciences: Scoping Review of Published Theses under Hawassa University- 2009 to 2022

Abstract

Hawassa University launched its first MSc programs in 2004 in various agricultural fields, including animal science specializations. In the past 20 years, the study programs diversified by fields of specializations and increased admissions. This scoping review assessed abstracts of 200 MSc theses of animal science graduates from Hawassa University produced during 2009 to 2022. The study was initiated to shed light on the trends in terms of diversity and quality of research conducted by students. The analysis focused on studies conducted on livestock species, disciplines, geographic
coverage, data collection approaches and statistical methods employed by students. The study further assessed whether graduate research is orientated towards problem solving or whether it focuses on information seeking/gathering/assessments. The most frequently studied species (96%) were cattle, sheep and chicken/poultry and goats, in descending order. Of the total theses, 85% were skewed to three research themes, 1) livestock feed resources and nutrition, 2) livestock production systems and/or product characterizations and 3) livestock genetic resources,
breeding systems, reproduction and genetic improvements. The majority of the graduate students (89%) combined two or more data collection approaches. Out of the total MSc theses, 77% fall under information  seeking/gathering/assessment researches. Only 22% theses were orientated towards investigative and problem-solving research. This scoping review might shed lights on a further country wide study for all agricultural fields offered by the concerned Ethiopian public Universities that are running BSc, MSc and PhD programs. The results of such a study can
also be used to inform the need for developing suitable strategies for improving graduate studies in Ethiopia, in order to ensure that graduate studies will contribute to societal change and economic development through quality and impactful research outputs. Revisiting the animal science graduate study programs would contribute to increasing the contributions
of graduate research for livestock sector development.