Towards a Prospective Communication Model for University-Industry Collaborations in Uganda
Abstract
University-industry collaborations (UICs), which are frequently aided by the government, are thought to be essential to enhancing local and national innovation systems. Previous studies have identified barriers to UICs, but there is a dearth of empirical knowledge about the types of UICs and their challenges in the context of developing prospective models to enhance UICs, thereby restricting our ability to execute UICs. This study seeks to determine a prospective communication model for UICs by examining the various forms of UICs and the communication models used by universities and industries for collaboration. The study also establishes the challenges in UICs and measures to address them. The study adopted a qualitative research approach focusing on the service industry with three (03) service firms that have collaborated with the University of Kisubi, and one academic institution which is the University of Kisubi. The study findings reveal that the various forms of UIC in Uganda include student projects in the form of internships, research projects, and funding of research projects. The study findings also reveal that the barriers to UICs which include lack of trust, fear of knowledge link, and incompatibility occur at different stages. The study concludes that a communication model for UIC is pertinent to solving the barriers to UICs and enables the execution of UICs. The current study also provides a guiding framework for both university and industry practitioners by developing a consolidated communication model for UICs. Theoretically, by integrating the Theory of Communicative Action into UICs, our study provides a robust theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamics of communication in these partnerships and proposes models to enhance collaborations. Universities and industries ought to generate relevant collaboration partners and establish personal links using the communication model.
Keywords: University-industry Collaboration, communication model, collaboration barriers
References
References
Abdullah, N.R.W., Mansor, N.B., and Hamzah, A. (2013). Keeping ahead of the game: Innovations and challenges in e-government in malaysia. The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 24(4), 549-567.
Ahrweiler, P., Pyka, A., and Gilbert, N. (2011). A new model for university €industry links in knowledge €based economies. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 28(2), 218-235.
Akuffo, H., Freeman, P., Johansson, E., Obua, C., Ogwal-Okeng, J., and Waako, P. (2014). Doctoral education and institutional research capacity strengthening: An example at makerere university in uganda (2000 €“2013). Higher Education Policy, 27(2), 195-217.
Alexander, A., Martin, D.P., Manolchev, C., and Miller, K. (2020). University €“industry collaboration: Using meta-rules to overcome barriers to knowledge transfer. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 45(2), 371-392.
Anderson, W., and Sanga, J.J. (2019). Academia €“industry partnerships for hospitality and tourism education in tanzania. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 31(1), 34-48.
Ankrah, S., and Omar, A.-T. (2015). Universities €“industry collaboration: A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 31(3), 387-408.
Aspelund, A., Madsen, T.K., and Moen, Ø. (2007). A review of the foundation, international marketing strategies, and performance of international new ventures. European Journal of Marketing.
Banya, K. (2001). Are private universities the solution to the higher education crisis in sub-saharan africa? Higher Education Policy, 14(2), 161-174.
Bloom, D.E., Canning, D., Chan, K.J., and Luca, D.L. (2014). Higher education and economic growth in africa. International Journal of African Higher Education, 1(1), 22-57.
Borah, D., Malik, K., and Massini, S. (2019). Are engineering graduates ready for r&d jobs in emerging countries? Teaching-focused industry-academia collaboration strategies. Research policy, 48(9), 103837.
Bunoti, S. (2011). The quality of higher education in developing countries needs professional support. Paper presented at the 22nd International Conference on Higher Education. Retrieved from http://www. intconfhighered. org/FINAL% 20Sarah% 20Bunoti. pdf.
Clauss, T., and Kesting, T. (2017). How businesses should govern knowledge-intensive collaborations with universities: An empirical investigation of university professors. Industrial Marketing Management, 62, 185-198.
Collins, C.J., and Stevens, C.K. (2002). The relationship between early recruitment-related activities and the application decisions of new labor-market entrants: A brand equity approach to recruitment. Journal of applied psychology, 87(6), 1121.
Council, N.R. (2009). 21st century innovation systems for japan and the united states: Lessons from a decade of change: Report of a symposium: National Academies Press.
Derks, D., and Bakker, A.B. (2010). The impact of e-mail communication on organizational life. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 4(1).
Dindire, L., Asandei, M., and Gănescu, C. (2011). Enhancement of cooperation and communication between universities and the business environment, requirement for a good functioning of the knowledge triangle: Education, research, innovation. Theoretical & Applied Economics, 18(9).
Etzkowitz, H., and Leydesdorff, L. (2000). The dynamics of innovation: From national systems and "mode 2" to a triple helix of university €“industry €“government relations. Research policy, 29(2), 109-123.
Fateh Rad, M., Seyedesfahani, M.M. and Jalilvand, M.R. (2015), "An effective collaboration model between industry and university based on the theory of self organization: A system dynamics model", Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 2-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-08-2014-0035
Fiaz, M., Naiding, Y., and Abbas, N.N. (2014). The dynamics of university-industry alliances: A win-win research and development ecosystem. International Information Institute (Tokyo). Information, 17(3), 893.
Filippetti, A., and Savona, M. (2017). University €“industry linkages and academic engagements: Individual behaviours and firms ' barriers. Introduction to the special section. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 42(4), 719-729.
Fiore, S.M., Graesser, A., and Greiff, S. (2018). Collaborative problem-solving education for the twenty-first-century workforce. Nature human behaviour, 2(6), 367-369.
Guba, E.G., and Lincoln, Y.S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. Handbook of qualitative research, 2(163-194), 105.
Guimón, J. (2013). Promoting university-industry collaboration in developing countries. World Bank, 3, 12-48.
Hall, B.H., Link, A.N., and Scott, J.T. (2001). Barriers inhibiting industry from partnering with universities: Evidence from the advanced technology program. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 26(1), 87-98.
Hasan, M.R., and Dahlan, A.R.A. (2013). Information sharing among the government, university, and industry: A cis approach. Communications of the IBIMA, 2013, 1.
Hong, J., Heikkinen, J., and Blomqvist, K. (2010). Culture and knowledge co €creation in r&d collaboration between mncs and chinese universities. Knowledge and Process Management, 17(2), 62-73.
Hu, M.-C., and Mathews, J.A. (2008). China's national innovative capacity. Research policy, 37(9), 1465-1479.
Iordache-Pla Tis, M., and Josan, I. (2009). Communication efficiency within higher education institutions: The case of romania european research studies, volume xii (2), 55-67.
Kasenene, E.S. (2013). Improving the effectiveness of public-private partnerships in the provision of higher education in uganda. Makerere Journal of Higher Education, 4(2), 139 €“157-139 €“157.
Kift, S., Nelson, K., and Clarke, J. (2010). Transition pedagogy: A third generation approach to fye-a case study of policy and practice for the higher education sector. Student Success, 1(1), 1-20.
Kirby, D.A., and El Hadidi, H.H. (2019). University technology transfer efficiency in a factor driven economy: The need for a coherent policy in egypt. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 44(5), 1367-1395.
Krimsky, S., Campbell, E.G., and Blumenthal, D. (1999). Perils of university-industry collaboration. Issues in Science and Technology, 16(1), 14-14.
Kruss, G. (2006). Working partnerships: The challenge of creating mutual benefit for academics and industry. Perspectives in Education, 24(3), 1-13.
Lee, Y.S. (2000). The sustainability of university-industry research collaboration: An empirical assessment. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 25(2), 111-133.
Lejeune, M. (1999). Higher education in uganda. International higher education, 14(Winter), 20-21.
Liew, M., Shahdan, T.T., and Lim, E. (2013). Enablers in enhancing the relevancy of university-industry collaboration. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 93, 1889-1896.
Mason, G., Williams, G., and Cranmer, S. (2009). Employability skills initiatives in higher education: What effects do they have on graduate labour market outcomes? Education Economics, 17(1), 1-30.
Mendoza, P. (2015). Industry-academia linkages: Lessons from empirical studies and recommendations for future inquiry. Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, 469-523.
Mgonja, C. (2017). Enhancing the university-industry collaboration in developing countries through best practices. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), 50(4), 216-225.
Moreau, M.P., and Leathwood, C. (2006). Graduates' employment and the discourse of employability: A critical analysis. Journal of education and work, 19(4), 305-324.
Panarina, E. (2015). University-industry partnership as a key strategy for innovative sustainable economic growth Innovation management and corporate sustainability (imacs 2015) (pp. 229-238): Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze.
Pauw, K., Oosthuizen, M., and Van Der Westhuizen, C. (2008). Graduate unemployment in the face of skills shortages: A labour market paradox 1. South African journal of economics, 76(1), 45-57.
Peksatici, O., and Ergun, H.S. (2019). The barriers against effective university industry collaboration: A study in turkish aviation industry. Journal of Management Marketing and Logistics, 6(1), 35-43.
Perkmann, M., and Walsh, K. (2007). University €“industry relationships and open innovation: Towards a research agenda. International journal of management reviews, 9(4), 259-280.
Pittayasophon, S., and Intarakumnerd, P. (2017). University and industry collaboration in japan and thailand: Influence of university type. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 25(1), 23-40.
Prigge, G.W., and Torraco, R.J. (2006). University-industry partnerships: A study of how top american research universities establish and maintain successful partnerships. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 11(2), 89-100.
Randil, C., Jayasiri, G., Perera, C., Siriwardana, C., Liyanage, C., Hettiarachchi, S., and Haigh, R. (2018). Need for strong university-industry partnerships: A case study in sri lanka. Paper presented at the MATEC Web of Conferences.
Roper, C.D., and Hirth, M.A. (2005). A history of change in the third mission of higher education: The evolution of one-way service to interactive engagement. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 10(3), 3-21.
Rybnicek, R., and Königsgruber, R. (2019). What makes industry €“university collaboration succeed? A systematic review of the literature. Journal of business economics, 89(2), 221-250.
Salager-Meyer, F. (2014). Writing and publishing in peripheral scholarly journals: How to enhance the global influence of multilingual scholars? Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 13, 78-82.
Salleh, M., and Omar, M. (2013). University-industry collaboration models in malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 102, 654-664.
Sanina, A., Balashov, A., Rubtcova, M., and Satinsky, D.M. (2017). The effectiveness of communication channels in government and business communication. Information Polity, 22(4), 251-266.
Schminke, T.G., and Fridell, G. (2021). Trade union transformation and informal sector organising in uganda: The prospects and challenges for promoting labour-led development. Global Labour Journal, 12(2).
Schnoes, A.M., Caliendo, A., Morand, J., Dillinger, T., Naffziger-Hirsch, M., Moses, B., . . . McGee, R. (2018). Internship experiences contribute to confident career decision making for doctoral students in the life sciences. CBE €”Life Sciences Education, 17(1), ar16.
Slotte, V., and Tynjälä, P. (2003). Industry €“university collaboration for continuing professional development. Journal of education and work, 16(4), 445-464.
Ssebuwufu, J., Ludwick, T., and Béland, M. (2012). Strengthening university-industry linkages in africa. A Study on Institutional Capacities and Gaps. Association of African Universities.
Statistics, U.B.O. (2013). Statistical abstract. Kampala: Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
Sun, Y., Negishi, M., and Nishizawa, M. (2007). Co-authorship linkages between universities and industry in japan. Research Evaluation, 16(4), 299-309.
Tessema, B.S., and Abejehu, S.B. (2017). University-industry collaboration in curriculum development: Analysis of banking and finance graduates ' attributes from educators and industries perspective. Education Journal, 6(2), 87-93.
Tijssen, R.J. (2011). Joint research publications: A performance indicator of university-industry collaboration. Evaluation in Higher Education, 5(2), 19-40.
Tumuti, D.W., Wanderi, P.M., and Lang'at-Thoruwa, C. (2013). Benefits of university-industry partnerships: The case of kenyatta university and equity bank. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(7).
Westmyer, S.A., DiCioccio, R.L., and Rubin, R.B. (1998). Appropriateness and effectiveness of communication channels in competent interpersonal communication. Journal of communication, 48(3), 27-48.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
