Knowledge production and research development in science and technology at higher education institutions in the Eastern Cape Province

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The aims of this study were to establish whether there had been discernable changesin the nature of knowledge production at higher education institutions in the Eastern Capesince the transition to democracy, and to relate these to international and national trends inthe way knowledge is produced. In view of the emphasis in government policy on thedevelopment of science and technology, the study was focused on researchers in this area andon the administration of research in this context. The research was conducted throughstructured interviews with administrators and active researchers at the three technikons andfive universities in the province.The study found that there had indeed been changes, both in the way research ismanaged, and in the nature of the research itself. Research has become more applied over thelast five years and there has been a move towards multidisciplinary, multi-institutionalresearch, although administrators tended to underestimate the extent of this change. Researchmanagement has also become businesslike with the establishment of dedicatedDeans/Directors of research on most campuses. Administrators ascribe these changes to newgovernment policies and to changes in the requirements of funding agencies. Researchers,however, generally ascribe the changes to factors more directly related to themselves, such aschanges in institutional research policy, more opportunities for multidisciplinary work and togreater linkage with the private sector. The study also found that many of the changes werealready underway some time ago and that there was a degree of proactiveness in the way someinstitutions had realigned their research.The study found that there are significant differences between formerly advantagedinstitutions and their historically disadvantaged counterparts. The latter are dominated by lesswell qualified staff and produce fewer research outputs than the former. Research cultures areless well developed and researchers complain of a lack of institutional support for research.Despite this, research continues to be a significant activity on these campuses. In general, staffat technikons are more positive about the future of research than their colleagues atuniversities, irrespective of historical advantage.The study found that knowledge production has assumed some of the characteristicsof so-called Mode 2 knowledge production as a result of a variety of national and internationalinfluences, and historically advantaged institutions have been able to initiate adjustments tothe way in which research is done in anticipation of new policies. Publication of governmentpolicy on science and technology and on higher education may have accelerated the changebut did not initiate it. The historically disadvantaged institutions, however, appeared to havedone little in anticipation of new policy and have been forced to be reactive to recentgovernment initiatives.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University