Fulfilling the research mission in the State Universities of Cameroon — The case of the University of BUEA

Abstract

In Cameroon, like elsewhere, the mission of the University, be it a public or private educational institution, is based on teaching, research and service to the public. The purpose of this study was to determine reasons for the low rate of the use of research findings generated by university research effort in Cameroon, and to determine strategies that can be put in place to increase the use of research results. A questionnaire with five options of reasons for the low rate of the use of research findings and five options of strategies that could be adopted to foster the use of research findings, using the Likert-type scale was administered to a sample of 100 respondents. The response rate was 94%. The questionnaire responses analysed quantitatively using tables and percentages revealed that although research findings are available and do address the realities of the local problems, they are not accessible. Also, there was an indication that although people who need the findings know their importance and do have knowledge of the relationship between their problem and the findings, they are not aware of the structure through which to get the findings. Relative to the strategies that could be used to enhance the use of research findings, the analysis showed that the findings need to be disseminated in forums and international conferences. Also, universities need to publish their findings to make them more accessible. Furthermore, the public and private sectors should be encouraged through the media to use research results, and the Ministry of Higher Education should encourage other government ministries to use the findings. Further dissemination can be done by submitting the findings to the sponsor of the research project.