Understanding the extent and nature of academia-industry interactions in Rwanda

Nsanzumuhire, Silas U.; Groot, Wim; Cabus, Sofie; Bizimana, Benjamin

doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120913

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…We refer to these challenges as "UIC activities not prioritized". That this challenge is among the most impeding is confirmed by the findings of Nsanzumuhire et al (2021), who also reported that a lack of interest from companies was among the most important barriers to UIC perceived by academic staff.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Considering the systemic and contingent nature of UIC influencing factors (Eun et al, 2006; Nsanzumuhire et al, 2021), these identified mechanisms and key policy interventions should be implemented concomitantly as a mix of strategies, not as stand-alone interventions: they are interconnected and implementing one sets the stage for the realization of the others.…”

Section: Review Of Related Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Public attention on how to trigger university–industry collaboration (UIC) has been growing in the past two decades (Outamha and Belhcen, 2020; Plewa et al, 2015), as many countries have shifted from an economy based on natural resources to a knowledge-based economy. However, despite this increased attention, many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are still struggling to lift these types of linkages to a desirable level of practice (Nsanzumuhire et al, 2021; Zavale, 2017). Previous literature on UIC has identified several barriers that preclude interactions between academia and industry.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Assessment of industry’s perception of effective mechanisms to stimulate academia–industry collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa

Nsanzumuhire

Groot

Cabus

et al. 2022

Industry and Higher Education

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To reach the desired level of university–industry collaboration (UIC) in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, specific strategies and operational mechanisms are needed. For this, an in-depth understanding of the specificities of the context concerning the UIC influencing factors is necessary. Such an understanding is still limited in SSA. This study evaluates industry’s perception regarding UIC and its stimulating mechanisms using unique primary data collected from 125 agro-processing companies operating in Rwanda. Data on companies’ preferences for stimulating mechanisms were collected using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). The findings indicate a low level of perceived value from current UIC activities. The most hampering challenges are related to the fact that students are not well prepared to take part in collaboration activities and to irrelevant research outputs. Companies’ preferences regarding stimulating mechanisms are mainly the provision of financial incentives for instilling commitment, the use of an external independent company as a form of UIC governance and building trust using the provision of high-quality graduates and research. The study draws on industry preferences to make recommendations on the best way to stimulate UIC in developing countries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Review Of Related Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of industry’s perception of effective mechanisms to stimulate academia–industry collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa

Nsanzumuhire

Groot

Cabus

et al. 2022

Industry and Higher Education

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“…Unfortunately, some countries are still challenged in using them. Interactions between industry and academia in most sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, for example, are still weak (Nsanzumuhire et al , 2021; Zavale and Macamo, 2016) mainly because of inadequate mechanisms adopted to stimulate the initiation of UICs (de Wit-de Vries et al , 2019). UIC is a nonlinear and complex phenomenon (Galan-Muros and Davey, 2017) that is strongly influenced by organizational factors and country contexts (Rajalo and Vadi, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…UIC is a nonlinear and complex phenomenon (Galan-Muros and Davey, 2017) that is strongly influenced by organizational factors and country contexts (Rajalo and Vadi, 2017). These characteristics limit the effectiveness of replicating UIC mechanisms developed in one context to another (Nsanzumuhire et al , 2021; Kruss et al , 2015). Understanding the contextual specificities therefore constitutes a prerequisite to identification of effective mechanisms to stimulate UIC.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward the identification of mechanisms to ensure effective university-industry collaboration in sub-Saharan Africa

Nsanzumuhire

Groot

Cabus³

et al. 2023

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Purpose This study aims at advancing the understanding of University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) by proposing an adapted conceptual model for comprehensive contextual analysis taking industry perspective and identifying effective mechanisms for stimulating UIC in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach This study was designed as a multicase qualitative study. Data were collected through interviews of focus groups representing 26 agro-processing companies operating in Rwanda. The process consisted of two sessions evaluating the current collaboration patterns, and two sessions identifying the desired future and the mechanisms to realize it. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti software with the grounded theory techniques. Findings Findings indicate that current interactions are unidirectional and focus on educational collaboration. Results are short-term and do not yield sufficient benefit for the companies involved. Industry aspirations for future collaboration were identified, along with linkages between inputs, activities and outcomes. Research limitations/implications This study has two noteworthy limitations. First, this study did not consider the capacity of firms to collaborate. Second, for simplification purposes, this study did not integrate other complementary sources of knowledge for firms. To overcome these omissions, a short introduction of University–Industry Collaboration (UIC) was presented to participants highlighting and justifying the scope of the study. As research implications, this paper presents a new integrated conceptual framework, which can be useful for studies focusing on a comprehensive analysis of the UIC context and identifying effective mechanisms for improvement in the future. A construct of policies that stimulate UIC is proposed, thereby facilitating further operationalization and testing of context-specific hypotheses on policy stimuli. Practical implications In practice, the identified conceptual framework allows to holistically capture and reflect on the interrelationships between UIC factors and outcomes for a specific context, hence, informing better UIC decision-making. In this way, this paper advances the operationalization of the argument for reconciling organizational theories with their practices. Social implications This paper presents a systemic means for organizational theories to perform their adaptive role in society. Indeed, as demonstrated by the empirical results, the proposed framework is effective not only in systematically assessing the current situation, but also in predicting the desired state in the future. In other words, the proposed framework facilitates prescience theorizing, which is a mechanism for ensuring that organizational theories adapt to future requirements of the society. Originality/value This study develops a new integrative conceptual framework to accommodate the interaction between UIC’s institutional decision-making and existing macrolevel frameworks of innovation ecosystems. In terms of methodology, the value of this study lies in its adoption of an ex ante approach to the development of mechanisms to stimulate UIC. This use of prescience theory (Corley and Gioia, 2011) constitutes an important – but long-neglected – approach to UIC and its adaptive role in society.

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Knowledge Transfer From Business Schools to Firms Through Academics: An AMO Perspective in an Emerging Economy

Boafo,

Dornberger

2024

Thunderbird Intl Bus Rev

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Society's growing demand for knowledge transfer from higher education institutions to firms through academics is a notable trend. Nonetheless, the nuances of how business school academics perceive their engagement in knowledge transfer to firms remain inadequately explored. This research endeavors to bridge this knowledge gap by drawing upon interviews conducted with 52 business school academics in Ghana. The synthesized findings derived from the interpretive phenomenological data analysis provide crucial insights grounded in the ability–motivation–opportunity theory framework. Within this framework, “opportunity” describes image‐ and project‐opportunity context drivers, such as media engagement, goodwill, in‐service training students, and projects by international development organizations fostered through relationship‐building and networking. “Motivation” explains the established national, societal, and self‐serving mandates, stimulating institutional‐, society‐, and person‐driven motivations. “Ability” encompasses the capacity of academics to employ both generic and relational mechanisms. The interplay among ability, motivation, and opportunity catalyzes the creation of various knowledge content types linked to specific market contexts.

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Understanding the extent and nature of academia-industry interactions in Rwanda

Cited by 15 publications

References 65 publications

Assessment of industry’s perception of effective mechanisms to stimulate academia–industry collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa

Assessment of industry’s perception of effective mechanisms to stimulate academia–industry collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa

Toward the identification of mechanisms to ensure effective university-industry collaboration in sub-Saharan Africa

Knowledge Transfer From Business Schools to Firms Through Academics: An AMO Perspective in an Emerging Economy

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