Prof. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUNE 03, 2009 1 Research Funding in Nigerian Universities – Experiences from the Association of African Universities

Prof. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUNE 03, 2009

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Research Funding in Nigerian Universities –

Experiences from the Association of African Universities (AAU), Accra, Ghana

Olusola Oyewole

Association of African Universities


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The World Today Is moving towards a

‘knowledge society’ Where those with

‘knowledge’ rule and lead the rest.

Spread of modern knowledge offers possibilities for improvements in the quality of life worldwide


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Importance of Knowledge Knowledge is therefore a

critical element of sustainabledevelopment in today’s competitive global economy.

People and nations need to be challenged to create access and employ knowledge to be able to meet the challenges of life and survive in our ever-changing world

Prof. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUNE Prof. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUNE 03, 200903, 2009

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ResearchResearch

Is a tool for the advancement of Is a tool for the advancement of knowledge;knowledge;

ResearchResearch refers to independent refers to independent intellectual enquiry into diverse intellectual enquiry into diverse disciplines and areas of human, disciplines and areas of human, natural and un-natural natural and un-natural phenomenon and occurrences, phenomenon and occurrences, as it relate to life and all that as it relate to life and all that exist or do not exist, which exist or do not exist, which leads to the creation of new and leads to the creation of new and significant knowledge. significant knowledge.


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Research

The modern world is currently being transformed through research.

The growth of nations and indeed, the economics of nations today depend on their commitments to knowledge generation and utilization through research.

Research is an important vehicle of transformation of societies and improving the lives of mankind


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Universities and Research

Universities are Centre for human development; knowledge generation and Research

Research had been one of the identifiable hallmark of universities.

Research is strategically important in Universities, as it is necessary to

facilitate good quality teaching help to motivate and empower human mind promotes human and national developments.


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Africa and Research. I

• At the early period of independence of many African countries in Africa, the importance of research for national development was recognized.


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Africa and Research. II

• As early as 1964, at a UNESCO meeting held in Nigeria, African countries, recognizing the importance of research to their national development, committed themselves to spend at least 0.5% of their Gross National products on scientific research.


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Africa and Research. III

• Today, sub-Saharan Africa spend less than 0.3% of its GNP on research and the region has been identified as the region that contributes the least to research funding in the world. Africa’s share of global scientific output has fallen from 0.5% in the mid-1980s to 0.3% in the mid-1990s.


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Africa and Research. IV

• Today, sub-Saharan Africa spend less than 0.3% of its GNP on research

• The African region has been identified as the region that contributes the least to research funding in the world.

• Africa’s share of global scientific output has fallen from 0.5% in the mid-1980s to 0.3% in the mid-1990s.


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Africa, which accounts for12% of the world population accounts for less than 1.5% or research publications annually

Commitment to research is low in Africa and it is one of the factors responsible for under-development and crisis.

Africa and Research. V


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Research in African Universities. I Historical evidences suggested that Africa was

the cradle of human civilization. Historians record the early exploits in philosophy, history, geography, writing, metallurgy, medicine , and architecture among others, by the early centres of learning in Africa.

Ade-Ajayi et al.,reported that the roots of today’s understanding of a ‘university’ as ‘a community of scholars’ can be traced back to two institutions that developed in Alexandria Museum and Library, Egypt in the last two to three centuries B.C and A.D.


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Research in African Universities. II African researchers and research were

among the best in the world There exist some Centres of excellence

in research in AfricaUntil: Political instability; Poor governance and Military interventions; corruption; African / Nigerian leaders allow themselves to accept a

wrong advice; Academic flights and Brain-drain; Low concerns and poor perception of needs for research

Prof. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUProf. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUNE 03, 2009NE 03, 2009

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Our Urgent NeedsOur Urgent Needs

• Revitalization of Higher Education in Nigeria to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

• Building up capacity for research in Nigerian universities for national development.

Which strategies ?


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Strategies for building research capacity in Nigerian universities. I

The success of researchdepends on the human entity – the researcher

His ideas, skills, thoughts,attitudes and Values

To build him/her requires time and training;

Starts with revitalization of GraduateTraining Schemes

1. Human Capacity Building


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Strategies for building research capacity in African universities. II

The space for research

includes: Social space, political space, physical space, economic space; National and Institutional

Research Policies National Research Foundation

( Is a right step)

2. The Research

Environment


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Strategies for building research capacity in African universities. III

(a) Laboratories, Equipment, Energy, Water, Communication facilities;

(b) Project Management skills -

3. ResearchInfrastructures

And Research

Management capability


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Strategies for building research capacity in African universities. IV

Major pre-requisite Study shows that most

universities in Africa spend less than 4% of their recurrent funds on research

Many universities and academics in Africa lack the expertise for sourcing for and competing for research funding

4. Funding


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Sources of funds for research in the Nigerian Universities

Source StatusGovernments Highest contributor; but low impact

because of volume

Corporate bodies and Industries Low but just emerging

Research NGOs ( International Foundation for Science, Sweden)

Functional supports to young academics

Institutions – Through internally generated revenue

Low and diversionary

Internal grants – National Research Councils/ Foundation

(Just emerging)

External Grants Grants Very low. Regional constraints evident


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Funding of Research in Nigerian universities. I

Population of 140 million people;

96 Universities out of which 35 are Federal government owned

University education is free in federal universities..


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Funding of Research in Nigerian universities. II

Government is the main source of research;

Not much is known of the contributions of private universities to research, as they are relatively young

Funding formula is 5% of recurrent expenditure


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Funding of Research in Nigerian universities. III

Government is the main source of research;

Not much is known of the contributions of private universities to research, as they are relatively young

Funding formula is 5% of recurrent expenditure

There are specialized research institutes outside the universities


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Sources of funding in Nigerian Federal Universities

Year% Source of Funding

Government Foreign Grants Industries

1999 100 - -

2000 100 - -

2001 94.5 5.50 -

2002 87.84 12.16 -

2003 99.91 0.09 -

2004 99.93 0.07 -


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Nigeria’s Position in Africa’s Research Capacity Capability

Country

Researchers per million people

Africa

Nigeria 15Mauritius 201South Africa 192Uganda 25Brazil 168China 459USA 4,103


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Nigeria in Bibliometric Performance Profiles of African Countries (S & T) :

Summary Statistics ( 2001-2004)

Country Total Publ.Output in 4 yrs

South Africa 14,809Kenya 2067Nigeria 2309Ghana 641Egypt 9895Morocco 3535Tunisia 2857Senegal 618


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Funding of Research in Nigerian universities. IV

Research is under-funded. Universities and individual

researcher have to seek support from other sources, including

Collaborations with research institutes;

Networking with other researchers in developed countries;

Competition for external funding supports

Consultancies and local industry supports


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In the Next Few Minutes

In the Next Few Minutes


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• Current Programs and Focus

ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES

Association Des Universités Africaines


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The Association of African Universities

The Association of African

Universities


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Our MissionTo raise the quality of higher education in Africa

and strengthen its contribution to African development by fostering collaboration among its member institutions; by providing support to their core-functions of teaching, learning, research and community engagement; and by facilitating critical reflection on, and consensus-building around, issues affecting higher education and the development of Africa.


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Our Vision

To maintain the AAU as the representative voice of the African higher education community both within and outside Africa.


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Secretariat’s Organizational Chart

Research & Programmes

Director

Communications & Services

Head

FinanceHead

Secretary-GeneralSecretary-General


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The Secretary-General

PROF. GOOLAM MOHMEDBHAI


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1. Leadership in Higher Education1. Leadership in Higher Education

Funding SourceFunding Source::• African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), • Swedish International DevelopmentSwedish International Development

Agency (SIDA) Agency (SIDA) Objectives:Objectives:To enhance African universityTo enhance African universityleadership and management skills,leadership and management skills,and dealt broadly with issues and dealt broadly with issues higher education policy, fundinghigher education policy, fundingand management. and management. Activities:Activities:The The Leadership DevelopmentLeadership DevelopmentWorkshopWorkshop (LEDEV) series (LEDEV) series CurriculumCurriculum Financial Mgtt: resource mobilisation & allocation;Financial Mgtt: resource mobilisation & allocation; Financial analysis, reporting and performance Financial analysis, reporting and performance

monitoringmonitoring Institutional Culture, Gender and Change Institutional Culture, Gender and Change Conflict Management and Resolution Conflict Management and Resolution Quality Assurance Quality Assurance University Leadership and the Fight Against University Leadership and the Fight Against

HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS ICT and Research and Education NetworkingICT and Research and Education Networking

intended primarily for Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Presidents and Principals Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Rectors, and Vice-Presidents, Directors,Deans Councils


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2. MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICAN 2. MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONSHIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

A workshop series A workshop series targeting senior targeting senior university managers university managers and senior academics and senior academics from among whom from among whom future Presidents, future Presidents, Rectors and Vice Rectors and Vice Chancellors are Chancellors are appointedappointed

MADEV training is MADEV training is contracted to contracted to competent management competent management training providers in training providers in Africa.Africa.

Funding SourceFunding Source::• African Capacity Building African Capacity Building

Foundation (ACBF),Foundation (ACBF),

Focus:Focus:Financial Management In Financial Management In African HEIsAfrican HEIsHumana Resources Humana Resources Management In African HEI’sManagement In African HEI’sManaging Academic Managing Academic DepartmentsDepartmentsProject ManagementProject ManagementStrategic Thinking and Strategic Thinking and ManagementManagementQuality Assurance In African Quality Assurance In African HEIsHEIsTeam BuildingTeam Building


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Other Programs3. Leadership and Management

Research:Research grants and

Dissemination of research on Leadership and Management in

African Higher Education system

4. Mobility and Senior Executive Attachments

Academic and Senior Administrative staff ExchangeSenior Executive Attachment to other African universities

1.1. HIV AIDS PROGRAMHIV AIDS PROGRAMMobilize, through advocacy, Mobilize, through advocacy,

higher education higher education institutional leaders and institutional leaders and managers to address the managers to address the threat of HIV/AIDS within threat of HIV/AIDS within

their institutiontheir institution

6. 6. Database of African Database of African Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations

(DATAD)(DATAD)•Creating capacity in African universities for the collection, management and dissemination of theses and dissertations electronically;


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Other Programs7. Quality Assurance

ProgramSupporting Instt. QA PolicyCapacity Building at national and Institutional Levels;Formed African Quality Assurance Agency Network (AfriQAN)

8. Supporting ICT Supporting ICT Development / Research and Development / Research and

Education NetworkingEducation Networking Promoting national research and Promoting national research and

education networks (NRENs). education networks (NRENs). IT managers information on IT managers information on

governance and funding options for governance and funding options for NRENsNRENs. .

9. Mobilizing Regional Capacity InitiativesAim at facilitating the contribution of African higher education institutions and research centres to poverty reduction and the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the identification of policy-oriented research and the development of policy

frameworks, inputs and forms of support for policy development.


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AAU Collaborative Programmes

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program


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AAU’s Funding1. Membership Subscriptions2. Projects / Programs.3. Services -


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Strategies for Funding• Knowledge of and Identification of

Development Partners / Funding Agencies – Know their interests, Process, Procedures; Linkages and Networking

• Concept Notes and Discussions – Organizational Marketing. Partnership, Networking

• Proposals- Quality.• Excellent capability for Project and Research

Management – Coordinators, Project Officers• Accountability, and transparency.• Progress Report Schedule


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AAU’s Activities

Promote interchange and co-operation among universities in Africa;

Collect, classify and disseminate information on higher education and research, particularly in Africa;

Promote co-operation among universities in curriculum development and in the determination of equivalence of degrees;

Encourage increased contacts between its members and the international academic world;


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AAU’s Specific mandates. II

Study and make known the educational and related needs of African universities and, as far as practicable, co-ordinate the means whereby those needs may be met;

Encourage the development and wider use of African languages; and

Organize, encourage and support seminars and conferences between African academics, administrators and others dealing with higher education in Africa.


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Challenge to AVCMU

Can the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) provide similar supports to the 96 Universities in Nigeria

What strategic Change may be necessary?


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Possible Strategic Change

AVCN

Association of Nig. Uni

Association of Nig. Uni


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Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks


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Strategies for enhancing research funding in Universities. I

National:• University academics to learn to engage in

discussions with national governments;• Research Advocacies within nations,• Development of national and institutional

research policies,• Special national funding initiatives –

Educational Trust funds, National Research Foundations


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Strategies for enhancing research funding in Universities. II

Within Universities:• Institutional research policy and unit for

research and linkages,• Commitment to funding of research through

higher internal funding,• Good research /project management

training for staff,• Proposal writing training programmes


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Strategies for enhancing research funding in Universities. III

Others:

• Promotions of quality education;

• Networking and Collaboration

• Visionary leadership in universities

• Internationalization of university programs that promotes linkages, and staff and students exchanges.


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Thank you.

Documents

Prof. Olusola Oyewole.AVCU, ILORIN. JUNE 03, 2009 1 Research Funding in Nigerian Universities – Experiences from the Association of African Universities