Exploring the Role of Research and Development (R&D) Council at University Level in Pakistan

Abstract

Research and development is valuable source to generate advancement and innovation at higher education. It is backbone of the research institutions in collaborating with functional institutions and industrial sector. The study was aimed to explore the role of research and development (R&D) council at university level in Pakistan. Thirty (30) respondents from each university were randomly selected as a sample. Questionnaire was used as a research tool. After validation of the research instrument, researcher personally visited and was involved some personal to collect the data from selected sample (23) universities of public sector in Pakistan. After collecting the data it was analyzed by using relevant statistical formulas. In the light of findings of the study it was concluded that R&D council performed significant role in the research institutions. It was also concluded that most of the stake holders of R&D councils were doing their responsibilities properly and contributing well in the research and development process of the universities. It is recommended that R&D centers should be established mandatory in all of the universities of public sector. Roles and responsibilities of all the personnel of R&D council should be pre-specified for their better contribution in the universities.

Headnote

Abstract

Research and development is valuable source to generate advancement and innovation at higher education. It is backbone of the research institutions in collaborating with functional institutions and industrial sector. The study was aimed to explore the role of research and development (R&D) council at university level in Pakistan. Thirty (30) respondents from each university were randomly selected as a sample. Questionnaire was used as a research tool. After validation of the research instrument, researcher personally visited and was involved some personal to collect the data from selected sample (23) universities of public sector in Pakistan. After collecting the data it was analyzed by using relevant statistical formulas. In the light of findings of the study it was concluded that R&D council performed significant role in the research institutions. It was also concluded that most of the stake holders of R&D councils were doing their responsibilities properly and contributing well in the research and development process of the universities. It is recommended that R&D centers should be established mandatory in all of the universities of public sector. Roles and responsibilities of all the personnel of R&D council should be pre-specified for their better contribution in the universities.

Key words: Research and development, advancement, innovations, backbone, quality assurance.

Introduction

The tenn research and development is used to illustrate a complete set of data about a particular issue and is generally connected with the production of scientific knowledge, methods and instmments. It is a series of steps, techniques, exercises and events that can be applied for creativity and innovations in every field of life. According to OECD (2002), the definition of two components of R&D is: the research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts. Development is systematic work, drawing on existing knowledge gained from research and/or practical experience, which is directed to producing new materials, products or devices, to installing new processes, systems and services, or to improving substantially those already produced or installed. Research and development provide us knowledge, skills, tools and techniques that are needed to solve the real world problems. Research and development is valuable source to generate advancement and innovation at higher education. It is backbone of the research institutions in collaborating with functional institutions and industrial sector (Bartlett & Burton 2009).

Bako (2005) described that research is a systematic inquiry whose objective is to provide information to solve problems. It is a systematic and objective process of obtaining, recording, and analyzing data for decision making. It is a careful study or investigation of existing facts in order to discover new realities. The term research and development is based on logical relationships i.e. research involves in explaining the data collection methods, obtaining the meaningful results, explaining any limitation associated with data collection and interpreting results, while development stands for production in the form of purposeful material and technology for the industrial sector.

Today many universities have lost the capacity for doing sustainable research. Shabani (1996) noted that while many countries recognize the importance of the role of research in the socio-economic development process, they failed to give required priority to the development of the various resources needed for research activities. Matos ( 1999) emphasized that without research universities will lose the capacity to offer first class graduate studies, the capacity to motivate and retain their best brains, the capacity to train the new generation of research fellows and scientists. There are many constraints and challenges facing the development of research in the universities. Traore (2002) identified the constraints to include, lack of strategic vision in research, lack of infrastructures, poor research funding, poor remunerations for research staff among others.

Research and experimental development encompasses original work undertaken on an organized basis in order to enhance the accumulation of knowledge, together with knowledge of an individual and society. According to Lauer (2006) this stock of knowledge is used to develop new applications. In education, R&D plays a key role in developing useful products for use in educational institutions, for instance the school, e.g. teacher training resources, student learning materials, sets of behavioral objectives and an institutional administration means. In economics, there has been a very noticeable increase in the interest economists has revealed in the course of invention and in industrial research and development. The emergent bulk of research results on productivity turned the attention of economists concerned with economic growth in direction of the process of technological change.

In various industries/firms commence research and development investment in order to build up new products or new processes. Market force give private firms with the incentives are extravagant for R&D to engage in research and development activities. Experimental development is organized effort, representation of active facts gained from research and practical understanding, which is engaged to produce fresh resources, goods and plans to install latest processes, systems and services (Opie, 2004).

The higher education sector generates new knowledge through the performance of research and development and it produces the highly qualified people needed to renew itself and to work in other sectors of the economy as they compete in a global market. According to Matos (1999) research productivity which is the recognizable output of research is an important concern to the university. Role of R&D council in higher education institutions is strategically important to increase scientific knowledge, skills and technology through research work for overall local and national development. Research and development is intentionally important in the public universities, as it is necessary to ensure quality of research work.

Objective of the Study

The study aimed to explore the role of research and development council at university level in Pakistan and to propose certain measures to improve the situation.

Research Methodology

The study was survey type and descriptive in nature on the basis of probability sampling methods. Thirty (30) respondents from each university were randomly selected as a sample including; ten ( 10) research supervisors, five (05) chairmen and heads of departments, five (05) deans of faculties, one (01) R&D head, five (05) R&D officials and four (04) quality assurance personnel. Questionnaire was designed as a research tool in the light of objectives and keeping in view the related literature. After validation of the research instrument, researcher personally visited and was involved some personal to collect the data from selected sample (23) universities of public sector in Pakistan.

Sample

Analysis of the data

The collected data was tabulated and analyzed using chi-square, mean score, frequency and by simple percentage methods. Data analysis and its interpretation given as below:

The role of research and development (R&D) council in the university and research institutes of higher education comprises the responsibilities of vice chancellor, dean of the faculty, chairman of the department, head of R&D, research supervisor and chairman BASR. The data in above table indicated the role of R&D council and showed that 67.2% of the respondents agreed with appreciating the efforts of vice chancellors in taking research initiatives by the R&D cell through providing technical and financial assistance, 60.4% respondents agreed that dean of faculty facilitates and monitors research process of the faculty members, 63.1% respondents agreed that the chairman ensures research quality of the department , 50.1% of the respondents agreed with the statement that head of R&D provide gave roadmap for R&D in the universities, 65.8% respondents agreed with the statement that research supervisor involve actively during research process, 50.3% respondents agreed that chairman BASR approves research proposals timely. Collectively, most 56.77% of the respondents agreed that R&D council play active role in promoting research activities. Mean score 3.16 show inclination towards agree side which means that most of the stakeholders of R&D councils play active role in promoting research activities.

Results and Discussion

This research study aimed to explore the role of research and development (R&D) council in the public sector general universities of Pakistan. The R&D council play an important role to promote research culture in the universities. Further it collaborate the local research institutions with the national and foreign universities to transfer knowledge and expertise. Role of R&D comprises the initiatives of the vice chancellor, dean, chairperson and head of the department, director of quality assurance and R&D officials to promote research. Gay (2005) described that major purpose of R&D is to sort out new methods of teaching, learning and research.

The Vice Chancellor is major stakeholder of the research and development (R&D) council in the public sector university. He is an administrative head of the university and is responsible for developing an appropriate policy to enhance the productive research in the university. The results of study reveals that majority of the vice chancellors always encourage the initiatives of R&D. The dean of faculty is an important element of the R&D council in the university. He is an administrative head of his faculty and is responsible to monitor the research process of the supervisors in various departments. The results of the study indicates that most of the deans of the faculty involve actively in planning process of R&D activities to provide technical and financial help to the supervisors and researchers during research process. The chairman of the department is an important member of the R&D council in the university. Being a head, he is responsible to ensure the quality of research work of the research supervisors and scholars in the department. Results of the study further explores that majority of the chairman of the department monitors the research process and ensures quality of research work in the department. The head of R&D center is an important part of the R&D council in the university. He gives roadmap for R&D mechanism in the universities. He coordinates with the research supervisors and heads of departments to facilitate them in the research. He officially manages the record of national and international publications and research projects. He has expertise regarding research and development mechanism. The findings of the study further shows that more than half of the head of R&D centers give roadmap to strengthen the research mechanism. The role of research supervisor is very important in research and development council. He is responsible to involve actively with the researchers during research process. The results of the study further show that almost half of the research supervisor involve actively during research process in the university. Chairman Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BASR) is part of the research and development (R&D) council in the university. His major responsibility is to conduct meetings regularly and approves the research proposals timely. The results of the study further indicates that less half of the total respondents do not satisfy with the efficiency of BASR.

The overall mean score 3.16 show inclination towards agree side which shows that most of the respondents seems agree with the role of vice chancellors, deans of the faculties and chairmen of the departments regarding R&D council, on the other hand, almost half of the respondents seem agree with the role of R&D heads and research supervisors, while less than half of the respondents seems agree with the efficiency of chairman of BASR to approve research proposals timely in the public universities of Pakistan.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Role of research and development council is very important to ensure the quality of research, to increase the research productivity, to collaborate with the industry, and to create research culture in the universities and institutions of higher education. This research study concludes that establishment of R&D centers is mandatory in all of the public sector universities and research institutions of higher education. It further concludes that already established R&D centers need to up-grade through providing necessary technical and financial assistance. The study recommends that vice chancellors, deans of the faculties, chairmen of the departments and research supervisors should be involved more actively during research process. It recommends that they should encourage, facilitate, monitor and supervise to all the efforts and process of research and development. The study further recommends that chairman of BASR should conduct meetings according to schedule and approve the research proposals timely. One of the new approaches is to form R&D board of management in the public universities. This board will become an effective arm of the university management to implement the research policy. It will have the capability to evaluate the work done by any R&D center and institute.

References

References

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