PREFACE

The importance of the role of technikons in Higher Education is widely recognised. Increasing emphasis is being placed on the research and development responsibilities of technikons in addressing the developmental needs of the transforming country. The unique character and philosophy of technikon education, which is provided in co-operation with the public and private sectors, provide the framework from which technikon research and development is conducted.

This document is the result of in-depth deliberations on the essential aspects of technikon research. It reflects the formal stance of technikon education and offers guidelines for managing and conducting research at technikons. It is also hoped that this document will serve as an important source for the establishment of guidelines regarding the financing of research at technikons.

1 INTRODUCTION

Technikons are educational and training institutions that specialise in career-focused education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in close collaboration with commerce, industry, the government and the community. They form a vital component of the higher education system as key role players in human resource development and research. Their mandate, as degree-awarding institutions, requires them to conduct appropriate and applied research in order to contribute to the economic growth, social development and reconstruction of South Africa.

 

This document provides a framework for a research philosophy for technikons and describes aspects of the envisaged contributions that technikons could make through research and development (R&D). Various national policy documents from the Department of Education and the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, including the White Paper on Science and Technology (September 1996) and the Education White Paper 3 on: A programme for the transformation of higher education (July 1997), have been incorporated into this document, which spells out the goals and principal issues of research at technikons in line with Government policy.

 

2 THE ROLE OF TECHNIKONS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

2.1 White Paper on Science and Technology

 

The White Paper on Science and Technology strongly promotes a National System of Innovation for South Africa with five primary domains of activity:

 

Promoting competitiveness and the creation of employment

Enhancing quality of life

Developing human resources

Working towards environmental sustainability

Promoting an information society

 

This National System of Innovation must support and promote the attainment of national objectives by the creative use of the outputs pertaining to new knowledge and new technologies generated by the science and technology system. Industry and business must convert the knowledge, technologies, products and processes that are developed into increased wealth and into an improved quality of life within a sustainable framework for all members of society.

 

2.2 Education White Paper 3: A programme for the transformation of

higher education

 

 

The Education White Paper 3: A programme for the transformation of higher education aligns itself with the National System of Innovation by stating that "the higher education system is, in fact, an integral component of the National System of Innovation described in the White Paper on Science and Technology".

This statement poses major challenges to the higher education system, and in particular to technikons regarding their educational programmes, research and development activities and community development contributions.

 

2.3 Challenges for Technikons

 

The Committee of Technikon Principals has adopted the following description of research and development (R&D) as a starting point for a research philosophy that is linked to the challenges presented by a National System of Innovation:

 

R&D is creative investigation conducted systematically to increase scientific knowledge AND the use of the acquired knowledge to devise new applications across the spectrum of science and technology.

 

The challenges for technikons in R&D can be summarised as follows:

 

The needs are focused more on the applied and strategic areas, including product development and process-related work. R&D at technikons should lead to results and products that can be applied in practice. The transfer of expertise, the transfer and diffusion of technology and the successful demonstration and implementation of results are an integral part of this approach.

 

The task of the technikons revolves around the practice of technology. Technology comprises the application and utilisation of scientific knowledge in commerce, industry and the public sector, to the benefit of mankind. It is a totality of know-how linked to artefacts, by means of which more power over the environment (natural and human) is acquired than permitted by normal ability or intelligence. The practice of technology has its origin in the application of practical, useful outcomes of existing scientific knowledge in order to solve a given practical problem, often by finding new applications for existing scientific knowledge. The practice of technology not only covers the natural science and engineering fields, but is also applicable in the social sciences and in management. In this context, R&D at technikons should focus on the development and transfer of technology and on its successful implementation.

 

The Education White Paper 3 emphasises the need for an increasingly technology-oriented economy. It therefore promotes a programme-based higher education system that is able to respond in a flexible manner to present and future social and economic needs, as well as to labour market trends and emerging opportunities. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between education and work and in particular, the curricula and methodological changes that result from the information revolution, the implications for the production of knowledge and the types of skills and capabilities required to apply or develop the new technologies.

 

The White Paper argues for a clear focus on science, engineering and technology programmes in order to correct present imbalances and especially the shortage of trained personnel in these fields, without detracting from the importance of programmes in the social sciences and humanities.

 

In the past, owing to former policies regarding higher education, technikons in general had unfortunately been denied the opportunity to develop a research culture and capacity. The Technikons Act, 1993 (Act 125 of 1993) opened the way for technikons to become degree-awarding institutions up to doctorate level. This reiterates the importance of a well-developed R&D capacity for technikons, which should lead to solutions for inherited political, social and economic problems, while at the same time stimulating development, growth, acquisition of knowledge and ultimately the creation of wealth.

 

Technikon staff who educate and train students, especially at postgraduate level, have to be skilled in R&D and have to be able to function as experts within certain disciplines of science and technology. It is the inalienable right and responsibility of the technikons to undertake R&D, scholarship and consultancy within the fields of their technological skills to support and enhance their service to the community.

 

The involvement of technikons in R&D will correct the relative shortage of researchers (particularly in technology) and the imbalance between basic research on the one hand and applied, developmental and product-related research and experimental development on the other.

 

This is of vital importance for ensuring the creation of wealth and for increasing prosperity. In this regard technikons have a major opportunity to promote the development of research and training through research, in order to produce sufficient scientists, engineers, technologists and subsidiaries to meet the needs of the country in terms of diversity, number and quality. It is a recognised fact that technikons are in a uniquely favourable position to provide the industrial, commercial and community sectors with top-quality advice and service through applied research and developmental

work. Co-operation with these sectors will facilitate the identification of industry-related problems and of addressing these problems through research and technology transfer.

 

R&D will be geared to the short-term and medium-term person-power needs of industry, commerce, government and the community, in addition to addressing their technical and technological needs. By the very nature of this interaction, technikons have the potential to provide these sectors with qualified personnel and professional services.

 

Most technikons are currently in a position to make a meaningful contribution to R&D, especially in terms of addressing the issues of economic development and community upliftment. Through the formal programmes, community projects and individual staff development programmes at technikons, as well as their liaison with industry and commerce, there is clear evidence that technikons have the ability to engage in R&D to complement their distinctive educational services.

 

The raison d'être for establishing a research philosophy for technikons is to identify clearly the research strengths, capabilities and capacities of the individual technikons and to relate these aspects to the needs of the end-users, that is, industry, commerce, government and the community. The external environment should be investigated, particularly with a view to obtaining an awareness of regional, national and indeed international initiatives in areas that are researchable. This will enable the technikons to plan their future R&D activities.

 

 

 

3 PRINCIPAL ISSUES

The following principal issues form an integral part of the research philosophy for technikons:

 

3.1 Serious attention should be given to capacity building and the establishment of a culture for R&D, which would include -

 

correcting the imbalances of the past, and equity and redress for previously disadvantaged communities;

staff development, linked to an increase in the number of staff members with postgraduate qualifications, particularly with doctorates;

the provision, maintenance and modernisation of a research infrastructure;

an increase in the supply of postgraduates in identified priority fields and focus areas to the academic and general labour markets;

the development of entrepreneurial capacity; and the increased development of co-operative agreements with commerce and industry to ensure international competitiveness.

the promotion of interdisciplinary R&D;

the promotion of regional, national and international collaboration in R&D.

 

3.2 R&D should play an important role in the lives of all academic staff members. R&D revitalises and sharpens the intellect and contributes to ensuring authoritative instruction with a vocational focus; it increases the

quality of teaching and that of graduates, it contributes to the development of technology and it makes the expertise within the technikons more relevant by rendering a service to the broad community of South Africa.

 

3.3 In the ideal situation, research and lecturing should complement one another. The basic point of departure is that a lecturer carries out R&D in order to generate and exploit knowledge in a particular field of specialisation, and also to establish new expertise in areas where a need is identified. This would lead to increased prosperity, taking into consideration the principles of stewardship, and to an increased contribution to the training of top-level human resources by applying knowledge and expertise in service of and to the benefit of the community.

 

3.4 R&D contributions have to meet recognised local and international standards. New assessment criteria should be developed to take into account the social and economic impact of R&D results, patents, technical reports, artefacts, various other forms of research outputs, and the development of R&D human resources. This should include evaluation by peers and end-users of the R&D outputs.

 

3.5 The commitment of senior management to promote and support R&D- related programmes and activities is of crucial importance. This includes infrastructural support, financial support and effective support services.

 

3.6 All R&D activities should be based on the principles of sustainability, quality, relevance, competitiveness and entrepreneurship.

 

3.7 R&D activities at technikons should increasingly be undertaken in partnership with government departments, research councils, commerce and industry, the community and other higher education institutions.

4 OBJECTIVES WITH R&D

Over and above the general views on R&D for technikons formulated in this document, the following objectives are pursued:

 

4.1 Building an appropriate research climate, base, infrastructure and support system.

 

4.2 Building R&D excellence in identified priority areas, developing networks of excellence and attaining the necessary critical mass of expertise with the support of commerce and industry and the public sector. R&D activities should predominantly be in areas where there is a national thrust in the applied, product and process-related terrains. Technikons will nurture the growth of applied and participatory problem-solving R&D and this will contribute to the socio-economic development of South Africa and its people.

 

4.3 Developing R&D capacity by addressing the imbalances of the past, involving previously disadvantaged communities and establishing a sympathetic environment and specific programmes for the upward mobility and development of staff.

 

4.4 Ensuring a top-quality contribution through the R&D activities of staff and students, to the reconstruction and development of South Africa, including its industrial and international competitiveness.

 

4.5 Making a specific contribution to the development of the SMME sector by addressing its R&D needs.

 

4.6 A transformation, by means of staff training and development, from a pure teaching culture to a teaching, learning and R&D culture.

 

5 CONCLUSIONS

This document provides an innovative framework for technikons to participate in R&D programmes as fully recognised higher education institutions. It provides major challenges for technikons, in close collaboration with commerce and industry, scientific councils, government and the community, to contribute to the socio-economic development of South Africa.

 

A sincere commitment by technikons, coupled with genuine partnerships with the various stakeholders, will ensure the attainment of the objectives and the realisation of the envisaged outputs and will create an exciting and challenging future. Dedication, commitment and much hard work will pave the way to success, leading to growth and prosperity for South Africa and all its people.

6 SOURCES

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 1998

The following strategies and mechanisms were incorporated into the research philosophy to bring about the envisaged contributions to human resource development and the socio-economic development of South Africa:

 

* Involve staff with potential and postgraduate students in R&D-related activities, either as individuals or as members of multi-disciplinary teams.

Appoint, in close collaboration with commerce and industry and the scientific councils with agency funding roles, a nucleus of excellent researchers of national and international standing to lead the R&D activities. In addition, establish a research corps through national and international exchange and exposure for staff and students.

 

Identify senior students with research potential and encourage them to do postgraduate studies on a full-time basis and, at the same time, involve them as assistants to their supervisors in R&D-related activities.

 

* There exists an urgent need for an R&D strategy and plan for each technikon to complement this research philosophy. This includes various policy matters and mechanisms, such as appropriate definitions and frameworks, resources and infrastructure, staff development, strengths and weaknesses. The external environment should be studied to identify the needs of the various end-user groups, thereby enabling technikons to plan their future activities.

 

* Proper training in the pursuit of R&D is of critical importance in the development of R&D staff and students. Workshops in research proposal formulation, research methodology, R&D management and report-writing need to be conducted. In addition, research supervisors should receive the appropriate guidance and training for their supervisory duties.

 

* Promote teamwork and the development of centres and networks of excellence and expertise in identified priority areas and themes. The creation of technological centres of expertise and R&D units, as well as the establishment of R&D chairs at technikons, in close collaboration with commerce, industry, government and the community, forms part of the strategy to promote R&D and advanced training in predetermined priority areas. The contributions of experts from commerce and industry are very important. They could serve as supervisors and become part of a cadre of individuals constituting a critical mass for the various projects.