Message from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academia)

The vision of the University of Mauritius (UoM) is to be one of the leading international tertiary education providers and a research-led University and one of the strategic directions identified to achieve this vision is 'Excellence in Research and Innovation'. At the UoM therefore, staff and students strive to make a difference through innovative and multidisciplinary research. The research effort at the UoM is strongly supported by its pool of talented researchers who are recognised nationally and internationally and the work of its postgraduate research students.

The Research Week has been held annually at the UoM since 2007 and it is part of the University's ongoing effort to foster its research mission by providing a forum to the researchers in all fields of study to disseminate and share their work and findings. The Research Week is in fact a key event in the Calendar of Activities of the UoM since it is the annual celebration of the research undertaken at all levels by staff and students at the UoM. It is also a means to acknowledge the contribution and support provided to the researchers by the UoM itself through the Office of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academia) and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources), the Tertiary Education Institution (TEC), the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) and other External Funding Agencies.

Given that this year marks the 50 years of existence of the UoM, the Research Theme for the Research Week 2015 is '50 Years and Forward: Advancing Research and Innovation'. As for the previous Editions, this 8th Edition also focuses on showcasing the research undertaken at the UoM through various events to be attended by staff, students and stakeholders. Each Faculty and Centre will have its own research day. Exhibition of posters, oral presentations and discussions will be held during the whole week.

Following online submission of abstracts and consideration by the respective Faculty/ Centre Research Week Organising Committees, 177 abstracts have been accepted for oral presentations and poster sessions namely 27 from the Faculty of Agriculture, 19 from the Faculty of Engineering, 35 from the Faculty of Law and Management, 9 from the Faculty of Ocean Studies, 29 from the Faculty of Science, 53 from the Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities and 5 from the Centre for Innovative and Lifelong learning.

I would therefore like to thank all participants as well as the UoM Research Week Organising Committee and the Faculty/Centre Research Week Organising Committees for their valuable contribution to this 8th Edition of the Research Week.

I wish you all a successful and productive Research Week 2015!

Professor A H Subratty

Call for Abstracts

8th Edition of the UoM Research Week

21 to 25 September 2015

The 8th Edition of the UoM Research Week will be organised by the University of Mauritius from 21 to 25 September 2015.

The Research Week aims at providing a consolidated platform for staff, students and researchers to interact and carry out peer discussions of ongoing or emerging research at the UoM. The main objective of the Research Week is therefore to showcase ongoing research being undertaken at inter and intra-departmental levels across the UoM.

Faculty, students, and affiliated researchers are invited to submit up to five (5) abstracts inclusive of oral presentations and poster sessions (either as author or co-author). Stakeholders are also called upon to participate in collaboration with UoM researchers.

Oral presentations will be of a duration of 15-20 minutes, with time for questions. Poster presentations should be on A1 format.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts should be submitted online at latest by 26 June 2015 (Extended to) 27th July 2015 and should include the following details:

• The presentation title;
• The name, affiliation and email of all authors;
• Paper type (oral or poster);
• A word description (between 300 and 400 words) of the presentation (abstract);

The abstract should comprise the background and objectives of the study, approach and methodology, major findings of the research work, conclusion and significance, and up to five (5) keywords.

All abstracts will be blind reviewed and the corresponding author will be notified of acceptance at latest by 14 August 2015. Accepted abstracts will be published in the UoM Research Week Book of Abstracts.

Those who wish, may submit their full paper(s) to the UoM Research Journal (url: http://vcampus.uom.ac.mu/pvcacd/resjournal/) at latest by 30 October 2015 for online publication in the Special Issue of the Journal.

All abstracts should be formatted as per template and submitted via the online submission system.

Important Dates

Online submission opens on 25 May 2015 
Abstract Submission Deadline: 27 July 2015
Notification of Acceptance: 14 August 2015