1(MA, Ph. D), Professor of Special Needs and Principal of Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
2PhD Scholar in Department of Education, Andhra University, India
3Advisor, Ethiopian Education Strategy Center, Ministry of Education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Online published on 5 December, 2019.
The purpose of this study was to examine the status of Higher Education Institutions Research and University Industry linkage in the Northern Cluster Universities in the case of Mekelle and Samara Universities Engineering and Technology College. The study is guided by a conceptual frame work derive from the review of the literature on organizational characteristics and environmental factors that influence university-industry linkage. Moreover, a mixed method approach was used to collect and analyze data for this study. Data were collected from 100 instructors of the institutions through questioner, interview and document mining. Findings of data analysis indicated that: the status of industry-university research linkage is an infant stage. The factors which hinder the linkage between industry and universities research of Higher Education Institutions are Lack of sufficient research fund in industry, Lack of enough encouragement for researchers to undertake more applicable research, the capacity of industries to absorb and apply graduate research results is weak, Lack of mutual trust between universities and industry, Insufficient publicity, weak exchange of researchers between industry and universities, Weak dissemination of research out puts, luck of fiscal incentives for joint research and development with universities, Lack of sufficient research fund in universities, Poor orientation of the industry sector on research and development, and Inefficient bureaucracy. Whereas, The enabling factors are national policy frame work to stimulate universities-industry linkage, the Quality of academic research (research skill of academic staff) and interest of industrialist and academicians, weak implementation of policy frame that foster the link with academic research and industry in North Cluster Universities in the case of Mekelle and Samara University Engineering and Technology College. Finally, recommendations for improving the current practices are suggested based on the findings.
Academic research, University, Linkage, Industry
