Research and innovations have multifaceted constructive impacts in addressing common public challenges, generating sound analysis that leads to effective solutions, and helping countries to reduce poverty by building stronger, sustained economic growth and development.
Particularly, in developing nation’s problem solving research and innovation works have fundamental roles to identify challenges that are hindrances to economic growth and development, initiating policy makers for change and driving long-term growth.
However, research to be fruitful and bring the desired outcomes, should be standard, focused and target on the concern and area of interest for a country, such as treatment for some type of health problems, increasing product and productivity, infrastructure development, environment and security matters as well as the like issues that are more pressing and important to the community and the country than any other. Similarly, it should be conducted with purpose in a manner responding to the challenges of the people, instead of making it just to make it. To this effect, allotting the desired capital, infrastructure, and providing the needed support is fundamental.
However, in many cases, developing countries are rarely at the forefront of advanced research, they don’t have the capacity, infrastructure and especially brain drain affects them a lot.
It is common for several projects to end up unfruitful for the reason they are conducted without having proper data and analysis, sufficient budget and the like inputs that are crucial for the success of the study.
Above all, because some studies are not carried out in a way taking into consideration the standards and principles of research, they fail to meet the desired outcome- to address national challenges and solve problems.
Recently, at the consultative forum organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with Bonga University for vice presidents for Research and Community Services Affairs, the significance of conducting principled, problem-solving research works that prioritize national challenges and advancing the country’s overall development was accentuated.
Speaking at the event, Higher Education Development Sector State Minister Kora Tushune said that works of research that are conducted as a country should be problem-solving and employ the ethics, principles and requirements of research.
He also said that higher education institutions, in order to be more effective in the area of research and community services, should establish and strengthen cooperation with each other and with international higher education institutions.
In his welcoming speech, Bonga University President Petros Woldegiorgis (PhD) on his part said that the University is undertaking effective activities in the area of research and community service, according to Ministry of Education.
Research and Community Development Affairs Chief Executive Director at the Ministry of Education, Solomon Binor (PhD) on his part said that research works have incalculable benefits with regard to answering societal bottlenecks and accelerating the country’s growth and development. In this regard, research activities that are carried out across the country should prioritize national focus areas and be problem-solving because they have incalculable benefits in solving the pressing problems of the country. Thus, the forum is expected to identify hindrances of national research works and create awareness in a scientific way.
He also highlighted the importance of implementing research activities in a manner aligned with the proclamations of higher education, technical and vocational institutions, research institutes and industry linkage No. 1298/2015. Likewise, when universities conduct research works with international institutions on indigenous biodiversity, the issue of product ownership and the transfer of genetic resources for research purposes should be conducted thoughtfully in a manner that adheres to the set principles.
Stating that community service projects should be knowledge-based, Solomon said that while teachers are serving the community they should use their knowledge and skills, along with the indigenous knowledge of the community.
The forum was attended by public and private universities’ research and social service affairs vice presidents, representatives from the Ministry of Education, research and social welfare leaders, executive officers and experts from the Ministry of Education, as well as professionals from the Russian and American universities working with Bonga University in the field of research and social affairs.
Participants of the forum deliberated on different issues and reached various mutual agreements on research and social issues.
BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER 2023
