| Abstract: | Scholarly communication is one of the activities of Higher Learning
Institutions (HLIs). At the heart of scholarly communication, we can find
research. The fact that research helps to maintain quality in the
teaching/learning and outreach services of higher learning institutions is
well attested. As one of the pillars of HLI, it is expected to become the
anchor of especially graduate programs. Graduate programs can have
strong foundation when research becomes part and parcel. In fact, in
order for the research to flourish and sustain, a strong institutional
framework that would assist the smooth running of research activities
must be put in place. The institutional framework must provide space to
enable institutions to have industry linkage so that research becomes
practical and applied and grants could also be secured for research
activities of HLI as well. Research funding has a direct impact on the
overall quality of programs both at undergraduate and graduate level as
well as on outreach services (Jain et al, 2010). Despite these premises,
little is known about whether there are enabling institutional frameworks
for the undertaking of researches. As mushrooming of PHEIs is a recent
phenomenon, there is a knowledge gap from PHEIs side considering the
overall research engagements and systems of managing the research
efforts as well. Therefore, this research was designed to assess the
available institutional framework for undertaking research in PHEIs.
While making the assessment, research questions such as “are there
available research strategy and policy?”; “are there earmarked budget
for undertaking research by staff members?”; “does the senate
legislation recognizes research productivity by way of tenure and
promotion?”; “does the research strategy stipulate ways of research
output disseminations?”; ”are there any established reviewing systems to
award a grant?”; “are there any initiatives to establish industrylinkage?”; “what is the role of Higher Education Relevance and Quality
Agency (HERQA) in strengthening institutional research frameworks?”
and “what possible recommendations could be made?” were asked.
In order to respond to these questions, qualitative survey, literature
review and review of pertinent organizational documents were
conducted. Admas University College, Alpha University College, St.
Mary’s University and Unity University, based on their research culture
and delivery of graduate programs, were targeted for this research.
Preliminary findings revealed that the outputs of research are well
recognized by considering publications for promotion; there is an
earmarked budget for undertaking research for staff members of
surveyed institutions; and the focus area used by HERQA to evaluate
institutional quality audit has also helped PHEIs to strengthen their
institutional research frameworks for the efficient management of their
research endeavors. It has also been noted that institutional productivity
and visibility in terms of research can be achieved when appropriate
framework for the research is put in place. Such frameworks are also
important in enabling PHEIs to stay in the scholarly communication
cycle in a sustainable manner. |
