Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR) ISSN:

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1 Available online at Volume 3; Issue - 1; Year 2017; Page: DOI: /iajmr Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR) ISSN: UNIVERSITY - INDUSTRY LINKAGE IN ETHIOPIA, A STUDY ON TWOSELECTED UNIVERSITIES Y. Ayenew 1 * and A. Teklay 2 1 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Adigrat University, Ethiopia. 2 Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, Adigrat University, Ethiopia. Abstract The aim of our study was to access the current status, identify problems and propose promotional measures for university - industry interaction works in Ethiopia. The study shows that university - industry linkage is at its infant stage in the country and the common types of interactions are limited to student internship program, consultancies and training programmes. Lack of laboratory facilities, inadequate infrastructures (like communication, transport, journals, books, etc), time constraint due to heavy teaching load and lack of strong industry linkage offices are identified by the academics as the main barriers for collaboration with industries. Moreover, improving laboratory facilities, conducting workshops for industry staff, encouraging regular industry visits by academics and setting up strong and decentralized industry linkage offices are identified by the academics as the main measures to promote collaboration with industries. Key words: University - Industry linkage, Types of interaction, Barriers and Promotional measures. 1. Introduction Recently, the role of university - industry interaction for the economic development of a country is taking the attention of policy makers both in developed and developing countries. As one of the rapidly growing countries in the world, Ethiopia is undergoing various transformation works. Increasing the number and capacity of universities has been taken as one of the major part of the transformation works, because the country has considered universities as one of the most important actors for its development. Training graduates has continued to be the main work of these universities. In addition, they also have already started some industry *Corresponding author: Luay Ahmed Naeem E.mail: ayennew@gmail.com Received: ; Revised: ; Accepted: linkage works; although this works are generally seen to be limited to the traditional ways of interaction and they are not done inan organized manner. Identifying the main problems prohibiting strong and dynamic linkage between universities and the productive sector and proposing ways that will help develop successful linkage will have a huge importance in driving forward the current interaction between universities and industries. The primary duties expected from universities are thought to be teaching-learning, research and community service (which can be interpreted in various ways). These responsibilities are not basically independent rather they are works overlapping each other. Most of the universities in Africa are not actively involving in the third mission and consequently they are labelled to be an ivory towers (Fourie, 2003). The teaching learning and researches with less or no benefit for the productive sector remained to be their basic tasks for many years. However, in recent times

2 Ayenew/Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR), 3(1): governments, including many African s, are urging universities to take the initiative in establishing a strong linkage with the community in general and industries in particular (Ssebuwufu, 2012). Innovation and technological advancement are key elements in a countries economic competitiveness and economic development. Universities are expected play a central role in the development of such works both by producing the required professionals and participating directly or indirectly in it. Although, this is the truth in one side, industries and the government should also have their share in establishing strong linkage between universities and industries to bring innovation, technological advancement and other benefits related to these. The perception regarding the role of universities, industries and governments in the process of innovation has been changing from time to time. An earlier perception on the role of universities and other research bodies is what is known as the linear model of innovation. According to this model universities and research institutions are considered as creators and disseminators of knowledge. It was thought that this knowledge would be absorbed, in a linear fashion, from basic to applied research and will be a major ingredient for innovation in the productive sector (Martin, 2011). The recent model, which is also termed as mode 2 (Gibbons, 1998), perceives academic institutions to have an entrepreneurial mode of functioning, in addition to their former roles, to engage directly in economic development through enterprise and spin-off creation (Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff, 2000). Nowadays, many enterprises have developed internal R & D capacity which reduced the dominance of academic institutions in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge, and universities are also engaging themselves directly in the production process. So now, the process of innovation cannot be taken as simply a linear process, rather it occurs in a spiral mode through strategic networks between different actors at the national and international levels (Martin, 2011). The perception regarding the role of the government in guiding university-industry linkages has recently evolved through different proposed frameworks. The framework, triangle of university-industry-government relations was proposed by Sabato and Botana (1968). They also stated that the government in developing countries should play a leading role in the development of university-industry interactions. Other more recent frameworks include the national innovation systems (Freeman, 1987) and the triple helix of university-industry-government relations (Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff, 1996, 1997). The triple helix model considers the academia-industry-government linkage as an interconnected dynamic relationship rather than a simple one way communication. It also suggests that the role of each actor in the linkage will change over time and these will in turn bring in a change in the internal structures of the acting bodies (Martin, 2011). The linkage here is overlapping with relatively independent institutional spheres and hybrid organizations emerging at the interfaces (Esham, 2008). The perception regarding the role of the government in supporting the linkage between universities and industries varies depending on the political ideology followed by it. Under the ideology of socialism the government was considered as the one who plans and directs the interaction. This will leave little space for ideas coming from the bottom and will in turn discourage innovation. In the liberal western world, the government was interfering in the university industry interactions only when it is thought that there is a failure which cannot be rectified by the two bodies. But, in recent decades most western governments and many emerging economies are shifting their role from acting at failures to active involvers by developing targeted science and technology policies, legislative frameworks and incentive mechanisms for initiating university-industry linkages. These works have basically the following aims (Martin, 2011): - Creating incentives for joint university industry R&D activities.

3 Ayenew/Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR), 3(1): Supporting the development of new technology based firms (Spin-offs). - Creating a climate and structures for innovation. Creating enabling framework conditions for sustainable university-industry interactions 2. Necessity Ethiopia is a developing country which currently is undergoing economic revolution. It will be difficult for this transformation to travel long unless it is supported by a joint effort of academic institutions and industries. As Ethiopian universities are not generally active on this regard, it will be of great importance to evaluate their current status, identify the problems and proposing solutions for their linkage work with different industries. 3. Objective The objectives of this research work are: 1) Assessing the current university-industry linkage in Ethiopian universities. 2) Identifying the challenges which are prohibiting good linkage. 3) Proposing ways for strong universityindustry interaction. 4. Methodology The study was targeted at Technology Institutes of two universities namely Addis Ababa and Jimma. Questionnaire was mainly used for data collection. All institute directors, school deans/directors, department heads, program coordinators and specialization chair holders were participated in the questionnaire survey. Additionally, data was collected by interview with the industry linkage officers of the two institutes. The questionnaire was distributed and collected personally by contacting respondents. 5. Results and Discussion Characteristics of the sample departments The respondents participated in the study are given in Table - 1, Table - 2 and Table - 3, and categorized based on different criteria. Table - 1: Number of departments University No. of departments Addis Ababa 04 Jimma 07 Table - 2: List of departments Discipline % (Number) Biomedical 2.6 (1) Chemical 17.9 (7) Civil 23.1 (9) Electrical 33.3 (13) and computer science Material science and 5.1 (2) Mechanical 17.9 (7) and Industrial Table - 3: Position of respondents Position of respondent % (Number) Head/ Director/ Dean 25.6 (10) Chair holder 74.4 (29) Status of Interaction with Industry Respondents were asked to judge the status of industry linkage in their institute. The result was given in Table - 4. Respondent Table 4: Status of interaction with industry Institute s status of industry linkage Good Intermediate Poor Total 15 (38.5 %) 15 (38.5 %) 9 (23.1 %) Biomedical 0 (0 %) 1 (100 %) 0 (0 %) Chemical 1 (14.3 %) 5 (71.4 %) 1 (14.3 %) Civil 6 (66.7 %) 3 (33.3 %) 0 (0 %) Electrical 4 (30.8 %) 4 (30.8 %) 5 (38.5 %) and computer science Material science and 0 (0 %) 0 (0 %) 2 (100 %) Mechanical and Industrial 4 (57.1 %) 2 (28.6 %) 1 (14.3 %)

4 Ayenew/Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR), 3(1): Types of Interaction with Industry Responses were collected regarding this and the results obtained are given in Table - 5. Questionnaires where respondents didn t respond in the right way were rejected. Service Table - 5: Types of interaction with industry Sample size = 34 (5 rejected) Rank Left blank Internship 25 (73.5 %) 1 (2.9 %) 3 (8.8 %) 1 (2.9 %) 1 (2.9 %) 3 (8.8 %) Consultancy 3 (8.8 %) 9 (26.5 %) 6 (17.6 %) 3 (8.8 %) 1 (2.9 %) 12 (35.3 %) Research 3 (8.8 %) 9 (26.5 %) 5 (14.7 %) 6 (17.6 %) 1 (2.9 %) 10 (29.4 %) Training 1 (2.9 %) 7 (20.6 %) 9 (26.5 %) 4 (11.8 %) 2 (5.9 %) 11 (32.4 %) programs Technology development 1 (2.9 %) 1 (2.9 %) 0 (0 %) 4 (11.8 %) 12 (35.3 %) 16 (47.1 %) Perception of academics on barriers to University-Industry interaction Respondents were also asked about their perception on the barriers that prohibited good interaction between universities and industries. The result of the survey was given in Table - 6. Table - 6: Constraints to University - Industry Interactions No. Item Mean score Addis Ababa (13) Jimma (25) Total (38) 1 Inadequate laboratory facilities Inadequate infrastructure(communication, transport, journals, books) 3 Time constraint due to heavy teaching and administrative work 4 Lack of autonomy to work with industry Academics are not aware of the possible channels for getting sponsored research and consultancy assignments 6 University norms and procedures hamper collaboration with industry 7 Lack of motivation and entrepreneurial spirit among faculty 8 Industry is not interested to collaborate with universities 9 The university structure is not adapted to the needs of industrial collaborations 10 Geographical location of the university results in less access to the industry 11 Collaboration with industry limits the free choice of research topics 12 Academics don t feel confident enough to undertake industry oriented research 13 The university has no policy towards collaborations with industry 14 Our research capabilities are not relevant to the industry 15 Collaboration with industry has a negative influence on the pedagogic mission of a university 16 It is not the mission of the academic researcher to collaborate with industry

5 Ayenew/Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR), 3(1): Perception of academics on promotional measures to University-Industry interaction It is important to identify the effectiveness of measures to improve university - industry interactions as per the perception of academics. This was also included in the questionnaire and result was given in Table - 7. Table - 7: Perception of Academics on Promotional Measures No. Item Mean score Addis Ababa (13) Jimma (25) Total (38) 1 Improve laboratory facilities Conduct seminars, workshops for staff from industry 3 Encourage regular industrial visits by staff 4 Setup strong U-I linkage units in universities 5 Publicize university activities relevant to industry 6 Involve staff from industry in teaching programmes 7 Give more autonomy for academics to work with industry 8 Provide consultancy/collaboration based promotions for academic staff 9 Tax concessions for companies collaborating with universities 10 Make it obligatory for academics to undertake a certain amount of work with industry Conclusions University - industry linkage is at a growing stage in Ethiopian universities while it has long distance to go forward, as can be seen from international experience. Internship is the main work universities are interacting with industries. Consultancy services, research and trainings are the other forms of interaction between universities and industries, where civil and mechanical departments are mainlyinvolved in this area. Lack of laboratory facilities, inadequate infrastructures, time constraint due to heavy teaching load and lack of strong industry linkage offices are identified as the main barriers for collaboration with industries. Improving laboratory facilities, conducting workshops for industry staff, encouraging regular industry visits by academics and setting up strong and decentralized industry linkage offices are identified by the academics as the main measures to promote collaboration with industries. Coordination and management of interactions at universities, except internship, are mostly done by the individual researchers or the dean of the faculty or the head of the department. The newly established interaction units are yet to play a significant role in managing interactions. 7. Recommendation Recommendations regarding universities The industry linkage offices should be reorganized in a strong manner with more power and personnel. Also, officers should be relieved from other responsibilities like teaching. Universities should give more attention and more budget to establish fully equipped and both teaching and research oriented laboratories. As time constraint is mentioned as a major barrier, staff members with a research capability should be relieved from heavy teaching loads. More importantly, universities should enforce the recruitment of research staff.

6 Ayenew/Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR), 3(1): In the absence of large number of research institutes, universities of Ethiopia are expected to cover the works of PRIs. So, universities should develop a stronger and industry based research capabilities. Universities should allocate more budget for R & D works. Universities should perceive industry linkage in a wider way. As is observed in the study, universities are focusing mainly on internship and staff and department initiated consultancy works. Universities should engage in more advanced works like joint research with industries, development of spin off companies and university owned enterprises, patent licencing and establishment of science parks. Universities other than Addis Ababa University has rated geographical barrier as a major problem for interaction. In addition, it is known that there are only few large firms in the country. So, this study recommends universities to focus on supporting micro and small enterprises. Universities should take the motive to organize regular seminars and workshops with industries and other relevant stakeholders. In addition, there should be an industry representative in the universities senate meeting. Recommendations regarding industries Large and medium industries should build their internal R & D capacity so that they will keep growing and be competitive. Industries should understand the importance of university linkage and should be willing to collaborate. This can be expressed by accepting and engaging intern students as they are their future employers, increasing trust on the capacity of university academics, providing their problems and their future plans of development for universities and trying to achieve them jointly with universities and other ways. Industries should be major funding sources for university research. This can be in the form of contract researches, patent licencing and others. Recommendations regarding the government Recent models of Academia Industry - Government linkage depict that the government s role in establishing strong academia-industry linkage is not merely facilitation, but to have a strong hand in the process. The government is responsible in shaping the national innovation system of the country. For this, the government is expected to continuously lead the collaboration works through the development of policies and guidelines. The government, as the current major source of funding for R & D works, should allocate more budget for R & D works in universities. There should be more PRIs in selected fields, which contain competent researchers and full laboratory facilities. Different funding programmes and interface organizations should be established to initiate and facilitate R & D works and to fill the observed gaps like establishment of research laboratories. 8. References 1) Esham, M Strategies to Develop University-Industry Linkages in Sri Lanka. National Education Commission, Sri Lanka. 2) Etzkowitz, H and Leydesdorff, L Emergence of a Triple Helix of university industry - government relations. In: Science and Public Policy, 23: ) Etzkowitz, H and Leydesdorff, L Universities and the global knowledge economy. A Triple Helix of university - industry - government relations. London: Pinter Publishers. 4) Etzkowitz, H and Leydesdorff, L The dynamics of innovation: from national systems and Mode 2 to a Triple Helix of university industry -

7 Ayenew/Indo Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR), 3(1): government relations. In: Research Policy, 29: ) Fourie, M Beyond the ivory tower: service-learning for sustainable community development. South African Journal of Higher Education, 17 (1): ) Freeman, C Technology policy and economic performance: Lessons from Japan. London and New York: Pinter Publishers. 7) Gibbons, M Higher education in the twenty - first century. Washington DC, World Bank. 8) Martin, M In search of the Triple Helix: Academia industry - goversnment interaction in China, Poland and the Republic of Korea. 9) Sabato, J and Botana, N La ciencia y la tecnología en el desarrollofuturo de América Latina [Science and technology in the future development of Latin America]. In: Revista de Integración, 3: ) Ssebuwufu, J Strengthening University-Industry Linkages in Africa: A Study on Institutional Capacities and Gaps. Quick Response Code Website DOI Number Access this Article in Online How to Cite this Article: DOI: /iajmr Y. Ayenew and A. Teklay University Industry linkage in Ethiopia, A study on two selected universities. Indo - Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 3 (1): DOI: /iajmr