Quality and relevance of tertiary education trust fund intervention researches in tertiary institutions in south east Nigeria (2010-2015)

Abstract

The study examined the impact of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention on quality and relevant educational research (2010-2015). The study focused on the impact of TETFund interventions on adequate relevant research development in tertiary institutions in Nigeria with special interest in South East Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study with African political economy model and resource – based model laying theoretical foundation. The total population of the study was seven thousand three hundred and eighty (7380) respondents drawn from five tertiary institutions in the South East of Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 481 drawn from the population of the study. 386 valid copies of the questionnaire were used for analysis. The hypothesis used for the study was tested with one –way ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The result indicates that TETFund intervention to a high extent has no significant impact on quality and relevant research by employees of state owned universities in south East Nigeria. This was attributed first, to the fact that funds allocated to these institutions overtime were under accessed due to the institutions’ inability to meet conditions set by TETFund for continuous access. Secondly, many academics who access research grants use part of them to take care of their personal needs leaving a paltry sum for research. The study recommends that the concerned institutions should work towards meeting the conditions for assessment by eliminating corrupt tendencies, and adequately remunerate academics so that research grants would be used for what there are meant for.

Keywords: TETFund interventions, State owned universities, Adequate relevant research