UNE > News and Events > Browse by article > Kenyan research student finds 'ideal study environment' at UNE

Next 'Step To The Future' forum will inspire young people May 19, 2006  

Previous Expert on early Christian 'heresies' comments on 'The Da Vinci Code' May 17, 2006 

Kenyan research student finds 'ideal study environment' at UNE

May 18, 2006

KaranjaF.thumb.JPGA Kenyan researcher mid-way through his PhD program at The University of New England (UNE) has described his experience as the best he could have hoped for anywhere in the world. Francis Karanja came to Australia to undertake his PhD because of its international reputation for quality eduction. He said that he was drawn to UNE because of the expertise he found in his specialised field, and has been delighted by what he has experienced at the regional university.

Mr Karanja (pictured here) completed a Bachelor of Forestry degree and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science at Moi University in Kenya. (Moi University, which has 10,000 internal students, is in Nairobi – a city of more than 3.5 million people.)

“I needed to do my PhD outside of Kenya because a PhD means that you are at the cutting edge of your field and you need access to the latest data in the world,” he said. “I have that at my fingertips here, but I didn’t in Kenya.”

“My PhD research is on the economic valuation of ecosystem services,” he explained, “which basically means attaching a monetary value to environmental goods and services. After my Master’s degree I started searching the Internet; I discovered that a respected researcher with expertise in my specific field, Associate Professor Nick Reid, was at UNE. We corresponded, and I came here. I am enrolled in Ecosystem Management, and am lucky to have supervisors in two Faculties: Dr Reid from The Sciences and Dr Oscar Cacho from Economics.”

Mr Karanja considers himself fortunate to have found an ideal environment for his PhD research. “I’ve seen a lot of universities, in Australia and overseas,” he said. “UNE stands out because it has world-class expertise, yet enormous benefits that come from its small size and regional setting.”

“The advantages of being at UNE as a PhD student, compared to other universities that I’ve seen, include the accessibility of facilities and equipment, services, and even office space,” he continued. “As a PhD student here, I have instant access to the latest resources and reference material. Many government and research organisations, such as the Cooperative Research Centre for Cotton Catchment Communities and several government departments, have a presence at UNE. I am fortunate to be at a university with established relationships with such organisations. They are accustomed to working with researchers at UNE, and my work has benefited from their collaboration.

“I find the lower ratio of supervisors to PhD researchers is very important. All I have to do is pick up the phone or go and see them; you don’t get that in a city university, and it makes a huge difference.”

The adjustment Mr Karanja faced when heading to Armidale in northern NSW was made easier by a well-established support network, including the UNE Postgraduate Association and the International Students’ Association.

“Armidale is a serene environment for study,” he said. “I am only 2 ½ hours from the coast and surrounded by great National Parks, but generally there aren’t too many distractions - and it’s safe. The on-campus lifestyle available at UNE is also extremely convenient. I live in Wright Village, which accommodates a lot of international students. In this supportive international community you don’t feel alone.

“Once I’ve completed my PhD, I want to return to working for the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Kenya. It is a globally respected non-government organisation through which I could do a great deal of rewarding work throughout the African continent.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at May 18, 2006 02:46 PM