RESEARCH INNOVATIONS THREATENED BY UNIVERSITIES’ FINANCIAL STRUGGLES
Researchers have raised concerns that the current financial struggles of most local universities are posing a threat to research and innovations, as the institutions can barely afford to fund innovative projects to completion.
Led by the Executive Director, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Dr Catherine Kyobutungi, the researchers said the financial constraints have forced most Universities to restrict themselves to the core business of education. She added that financial constraints have caused frustrations among innovators whose projects have never scaled past the prototype stage, with funding not forthcoming. “Research is a cost; it must be itemized on priority funding and will become effective in solving the many problems that bedevil African countries. Without research, we will not have development, we must always be innovative,” Dr. Kyobutungi said.
Researchers who spoke during a stakeholders meeting at Zetech University Mang’u campus in Kiambu County also decried the low investment towards research and innovation by most African governments, at an average of 0.45% of their GDP, with Kenya investing about 0.6 percent saying this has left the institutions of higher learning stretched. “If African governments don’t inject more funding into research and innovation, then we fear economic growth in the continent. They need to direct more to this field as most universities are cash-strapped,” said Dr. Kyubutungi.
On her part, Zetech Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), Professor Alice Njuguna, said the institution has an innovation hub that not only provides mentorship but also links innovative students with the international market.
“We have been working with not only students but locals who have passion for innovation. We have also been linking them with markets in different industries, with some students going to Nigeria, Ghana and the UK,” Prof. Njuguna said.
