This dissertation is an exploratory study aimed at increasing the theoretical and empirical
understanding of knowledge transfer from a university to its region. The study builds on the
increased emphasis on the role of universities as âenginesâ for development. By using the Faculty
of Agriculture at the University of the Free State, South Africa as a case study, this study aimed
to provide a nuanced understand of the factors affecting knowledge transfer between academics
and stakeholders in a less favoured region.
By means of the learning region concept and supported by other empirical studies, key indicators
were identified from the literature and were developed for investigation. A qualitative approach
was followed to collect data from academics in the Faculty of Agriculture and from relevant
stakeholders by means of semi-structured interviews and a detailed review of some key policy
documents. Institutional data, farmer databases and an academic survey provided quantitative
data with a view to facilitating the triangulation of data and the minimising of bias.
Findings from the study revealed that the process of knowledge transfer from the UFS was
affected by a combination of demand and supply factors. Some of the factors affecting supply
included the nature and the history of the UFS and the Faculty of Agriculture, adequate incentive
structures, the level of policy alignment and the embeddedness of knowledge outputs from the
faculty. Demand factors included the absorptive capacity of the region, the presence of
coordinated demand systems and the nature of the networks that existed between stakeholders.
This thesis argues that because of institutional lock-ins in the region â that have led to path
dependency in the practice of agriculture â knowledge from the faculty has failed to realise its
potential in respect of contributing to regional development. While there is evidence of networks
between farmers and academics, the network forms are âdistortedâ and as yet strongly embedded
along historical social and racial lines. There is also limited evidence of a properly
institutionalised notion of engagement with emerging farmers and thus knowledge transfer
continues to be path dependent.
The findings have implications for the UFS, for the faculty and for the region. While the UFS has
defined itself as having both a national and an international agenda, the university will consciously have to define its regional role and then have to establish structures for active
engagement â not only broadly but also specifically with the agricultural sector. At the faculty
level, engagement needs to be reconceptualised, with engagement moving from a philanthropic
ethos to one that is part of the core function of teaching and learning. At the regional level, there
is a need for the establishment of new forums in which the UFS and the different stakeholders
may engage. More importantly, these initiatives will have to be built on trust, social capital and
networks for collective benefits to result.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-08042014-111504 |
| Date | 04 August 2014 |
| Creators | Fongwa, Neba Samuel |
| Contributors | Dr N Cloete, Prof D Atkinson, Prof JGL Marais |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-08042014-111504/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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