{
  "abstract": "Introduction Strengthening research capacity in Africa is vital for tackling pressing health, educational and socioeconomic challenges facing the continent. At the core of this effort is the cultivation of innovative research leaders through postgraduate training programmes that incorporate mentorship-infused supervision. Such models have demonstrated potential in improving research skills, boosting academic productivity and fostering leadership development among emerging scholars. This systematic review and meta-synthesis protocol aims to examine existing mentorship-infused supervision practices across African higher education institutions. The review seeks to identify effective models, uncover common challenges and barriers, and generate evidence-based recommendations to develop sustainable, contextually relevant strategies. Insights from this work will inform policies and practices to enhance postgraduate research training, advance research leadership and contribute to the broader goal of strengthening research ecosystems across Africa.Methods and analysis A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis will be undertaken, focusing on qualitative research studies as well as the qualitative components of mixed-methods studies. Relevant studies published in English will be identified through a comprehensive search strategy. The electronic databases, including Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online, EMBASE and CINAHL, will be searched to capture a wide range of peer-reviewed articles and grey literature. Databases will be searched from March 2026. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction, quality assessment and evaluation of risk of bias, using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist.Ethics and dissemination This systematic review and meta-synthesis will analyse publicly available literature and does not require ethical approval, as it involves no primary data collection. It will adhere to established ethical and methodological standards, including proper citation and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The findings will be widely disseminated through open-access journal publication, conference presentations and targeted reports for universities, research institutions and policymakers to inform and support mentorship-based postgraduate research supervision across Africa.PROSPERO registration number CDR420251049878. Available from https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251049878.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Olanrewaju Oladimeji"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Directorate of Research and Innovation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Mukhethwa Londani"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Sibusiso Moyo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Teaching Learning Community Engagement and Student Support, University of South Africa, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Eunice Seekoe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Directorate of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Council on Higher Education, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Amani Saidi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research, Innovations and Partnerships, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Tebogo Maria Mothiba"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Research and Innovations, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Nosisi Nellie Feza"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Teaching & Learning, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Ronel Maart"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bowen University Iwo, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria"
      ],
      "name": "Jonathan Oyebamiji Babalola"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "African Academy of Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya"
      ],
      "name": "Friday Okonofua"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa",
        "Groote Schuur Hospital, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Ntobeko Ayanda Bubele Ntusi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa"
      ],
      "name": "Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Mentorship-infused initiatives for postgraduate research supervision in African higher institutions of learning: a systematic review and meta-synthesis protocol",
  "uid": "0cdd7a9c-2b12-551a-af90-9ded6ada7b44"
}