Research Infrastructure and Lecturer’s Research Output at Kyambogo University
Main Article Content
Keywords
Research, infrastructure, lecturer research output, Kyambogo University
Abstract
It is incontestable that universities are expected to provide an enabling infrastructure, facilities, and resources for teaching, research and community service. With research becoming a dominant university function for generating new knowledge for society advancement, the need for a supportive infrastructure needs no overstatement. However, Kyambogo University is characterised by weak research supporting infrastructure in form of ill-equipped laboratories, inadequate and outdated field equipment, inadequate and unconducive office space, intermittent power black-outs, poor internet connectivity and poor library services among others. According, this study set out to assess the effect of research infrastructure on lecturers’ research output at Kyambogo University. Research infrastructure is comprised of the physical infrastructure and electronic resources that support research in the university. The target population for this study was PhD holding lecturers. Sample (n = 127) was selected through cluster and simple random sampling to participated in the study through a questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modelling were employed to analyse the collected data. Descriptive results disclose that research infrastructure at Kyambogo is weak and that there is low research productivity. Structural Equation Modelling result portray that research infrastructure has a significant and positive effect on lecturers’ research output. The study conclude that research infrastructure is a strong predictor of research output in a university. Hence, university education policy makers and managers ought to earmark serious investment to ensure that adequate and appropriate research infrastructure is put in place as a strategic measure to promote lecturer’s research output.
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