Taskforce :: Muni University

Institutional Context of the Research Priorities ::

Research is essential to Muni University's Academic Programmes and institutional sustainability. The West Nile region, where the university is located, is endowed with natural resources and diverse socio-economic challenges. Together, these offer unique opportunities for research ranging from agroecosystems to health.

Uganda's vision is "a transformed society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous, middle income country within 30 years" (NDP 2010-2015). This vision can be realized by stimulating socio-economic development among communities through research. However, the current share expenditure on research and development as a percentage of the national gross domestic product is only 0.3% compared to the African Union's target of 1% (NDP 2010-2015).

To increase the contribution of research to socio-economic development in Uganda, and especially the West Nile region, Muni University seeks to adopt the concept of the triple helix, which integrates academia, industry, and government. Triple helix relationships are important because they stimulate innovations and sustainability. Therefore, Muni University will engage in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research through collaborations with industry and government to enhance creation and dissemination of innovations and knowledge.

Research at Muni University will be guided by the following principles: innovativeness, stakeholder participation, knowledge generation and dissemination, and professional growth and development.

Research at Muni University

Muni University's overall research goal is to engage in quality and innovative research, and knowledge development and management. The vision is to be "an innovative and specialized university for societal transformation" and the mission is to "provide quality education, generate knowledge, promote innovation, and empower communities for transformation". The university will strive to adopt a problem-solving approach to research.

Muni University has identified four broad research priority and four cross-cutting themes, which align with the university's Strategic Plan (2010-2015) and the National Development Plan (2010-2015). These are as follows:

Research Priority Themes

Research Capacity Development
Innovation Systems Development

- Food Security and Agricultural Technology

- Clustering

- Renewable and Sustainable Energy

- Indigenous Knowledge Preservation

Environmental and Natural Resource Management
Health

Cross-Cutting Themes

Information and Communications Technology
Entrepreneurial development
Gender
Governance and Peace Building

Strategies to Achieving the Research Goal

Research at Muni University will be based on the following strategies:

Active fund-seeking through grants
Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations
Stakeholder involvement in research
Promotion of knowledge transfer
Promotion of service delivery in communities

Dissemination of Research Output

Muni University will promote sharing of knowledge generated through research to ensure application of research findings as well as enhance effective service delivery in communities. This will be accomplished through the following strategies:

International Peer Reviewed Journals and Journals to be hosted by Muni University (e.g. The International Journal of Technoscience and Development)
Annual Research Conferences
Research Exhibitions
Research Bulletins
Policy Briefs
Radio Broadcasting