Universities and knowledge-based development in sub-Saharan Africa: comparing university-firm interaction in Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2010
TITLE AUTHOR(S): G.Kruss
KEYWORDS: NIGERIA, UGANDA, UNIVERSITIES
DEPARTMENT: Equitable Education and Economies (IED)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 6917
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/3701
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/3701
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The paper draws on an empirical study that investigated the extent of, incentives for and constraints on interaction between universities and firms in three countries that differ in terms of their level of economic development and their degree of technological sophistication Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa. Evidence from two main data sources is presented - a survey of firms in key regions and sectors in each country and case studies of university practice. The study shows that, in South Africa, university-firm interaction is primarily associated with technological upgrading of firms to exploit historically strong export sectors, and to develop niche specializations in high technology manufacturing firms. In Nigeria, there is mismatch between the capabilities of universities and firms, and firms tend to rely on their own resources or customers to drive incremental innovation rather than interacting directly with universities. In Uganda, a similar trend to Nigeria is found, with firms in the agro-processing sector relying on tacit know-how', indigenous knowledge and other publicly available knowledge to support incremental innovation. The paper thus examines conditions of universities, firms and their potential for interaction across a national system of innovation in the three countries, and in so doing, attempts to open up a research agenda in terms of the specific challenges African countries face in search of knowledge for development.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Universities and knowledge-based development in sub-Saharan Africa: comparing university-firm interaction in Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa
- The new partnership for African development: elite perceptions in South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe
- Knowledge for development: university-firm interaction in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Nigeria: working papers
- Knowledge for developent: university-firm interaction in sub-Saharan Africa: the case of Uganda: working papers
- Innovation in sub-Saharan Africa: competitiveness, capability and achievements in South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda
- Universities as agents of innovation for inclusive development: case studies of university interaction with marginalized communities in Nigeria
- Digital preservation of indigenous knowledge (IK) by cultural heritage institutions: a comparative study of Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda
- Putting university-industry interaction into perspective: a differentiated view from inside South African universities
- From racial liberalism to corporate authoritarianism: the Shell affair and the assault on academic freedom in South Africa
- Shifting African identities
- Environmental education, ethics and action in southern Africa
- With Africa for Africa: towards quality education for all
- Informal finance in the informal economy: promoting decent work among the working poor
- The politics of curriculum review and revision in South Africa
- Some factors in condom-use amongst first-year Nigerian university students and black and white South Africans
- Chasing credentials and mobility: private higher education in South Africa
- The focus of an undergraduate social science curriculum for Southern Africa: historical consciousness, human rights and social and development issues
- Factors affecting behaviours that address HIV risk among Nigerian university students
- South Africa and Nigeria: two unequal centres in a periphery
- South Africa and Nigeria: getting closer all the time