Accounting and Finance Lecturer
Strathmore University
My name is Teresa Githiaka from Strathmore University Kenya. I am currently undertaking my Doctoral studies and teaching undergraduate students.
I was deeply honored and overjoyed to have been awarded the GBSN scholarship. It was just timely since l was in the data analysis part of my doctoral research. The GBSN scholarship had a significant impact since my tuition fee was fully covered for the Global School of Research Methods (GSERM) at the University of St. Gallen which is a prestigious university. Many thanks to Strathmore University and Dr. Mumbi, who gave me overwhelming support in catering for the air ticket and living expenses in Switzerland. The travel was also another fantastic experience. At first l was anxious because of traveling alone into a foreign country but the directions given by the GSERM team were very clear.
The GSERM experience was astounding. I was able to learn the Structural Equation Models (SEM) and Panel Data Analysis. During the first week we did SEM. Professor Douglas was very instrumental in the delivery of the course and made the course very interesting through the use of Lab activities and exercises. In the second week, Professor Zorn was able to take us through Panel Data Analysis and he was able to integrate his rich experience in the different contexts. The experience was thrilling due to the variations. This exposure has broadened my understanding on data analysis and has given me more insights on how l can interpolate my findings especially when publishing my work. Further, the visit to Appenzell and the guided city tour were very interesting experiences. We were able to explore other cultures and learn more.
In conclusion, the GBSN scholarship has given me a remarkable exposure and milestone in my research career. I will highly encourage future participants to go for the GBSN scholarship. It is a worthwhile experience that will give you exposure to the world’s best learning and network. Finally, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the scholarship committee who made this award possible. I am eager to continue my journey to make meaningful contributions in my research area having been equipped with the necessary research and data analysis skills.
