The leadership and management of research and innovation in public higher education institutions in Ethiopia : policies and practices

Abstract

An important function of higher education institutions, including the ones in Ethiopia, is leading and managing research and innovation at policy and practice level. Research and innovation leaders at an institution’s university, college and project level should manage and lead research and innovation activities to be aligned with local community problems, internal problems, the problems of industry and the socio-economic challenges of the country. To manage and lead research and innovation projects effectively, these leaders should be competent in administrative, adaptive and enabling leadership that relate to complexity leadership theory embedded in knowledge-based economies. The main aim of the study was to understand the competency of research and innovation management and leadership at policy and practice level at higher education institutions in Ethiopia. A literature study and an empirical investigation were carried out with the empirical investigation consisting of a mixed-methods research approach. Data were collected using document analysis, semi- structured individual interviewing and a structured questionnaire. Four Ethiopian universities served as research sites representing first-, second- and third-generation institutions in Ethiopia. Participants included 358 academics who completed the structured questionnaire. Individual interviews were conducted with 12 research leaders at university level and 11 each at college and project level. Individual interviews were also conducted with 11 co-investigators, 11 community leaders, 6 industry managers, and 2 officials at federal level. Key findings revealed that the research policies of the four research sites were not formulated in line with the national Science, Technology and Innovation Policy of Ethiopia, and the framework for Ethiopian higher education research and technology transfer policy document. Research leaders at university, college and project level were not competent in research and innovation project management and leadership to be aligned to problems of the local community, internal institutional problems, industry and the country. The contributions of research and innovation projects in producing relevant knowledge, appropriate technologies, and competent human capital were found to be insignificant. To improve the research and innovation management and leadership capacity at Ethiopian higher education institutions, a model was developed that is focused on administrative, adaptive and enabling leadership for research leaders at university, college and project level.