ERIC Number: EJ682683
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Apr
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-4222
EISSN: N/A
Applied Research Centres at South African Universities. The Relationship between 'Base' Internal Structures and Network 'Superstructures'
Cooper, David
Industry and Higher Education, v19 iss2 p143-153 Apr 2005
This article considers the way in which applied research centres and units at South African higher education institutions enhance their networks with industry, government and community organizations. The findings from 12 case studies of research groupings at higher education institutions in Cape Town support the author's argument for a more fundamental approach: weak structures of centres and units (their internal bases) need to be solidly constructed before a superstructure of external networks can grow strongly. It is suggested that an internal transformation towards ?application-oriented? research centres and units has been taking place, especially at universities. Smaller units tend to be more stable because they are constructed around a traditional professor. Larger centres require functional, innovative structures, including a layer of what are termed ?senior scholar-researchers? between the centre director and postgraduates. A more secure, new career track for senior scholar-researchers alongside the traditional professor-lecturer track is thus implied, impacting not only on university professor identities but also on funding systems.
Descriptors: Institutional Cooperation, Higher Education, Educational Research, Research and Development Centers, Research Universities, Networks
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A