Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University in Uganda, comes from a region with highly challenging circumstances. Uganda, and Africa in general, is experiencing some of the worst effects of climate change. It has very high population growth, high unemployment especially among youth, new diseases emerging, and poverty. Politicians have questioned him directly on why the PhD graduates from his university cannot solve these problems or develop innovations from their research. The answer, of course, lies with funding, which used to come primarily from the US and European Union. But with COVID-19, and the realisation that Africa was not a priority for vaccine rollouts, the Ugandan government started for the first time to directly provide research funding to its universities. The outcomes have extended well beyond the pandemic. For instance, new research has led to the development of new adaptations for crops and livestock in the face of climate change. But there has not been much industry to carry such ideas forward and employ young people. Professor Nawangwe’s response is to establish an innovation hub at his university. “One of the biggest problems we face is changing the mindset of our people, who don’t believe that they can do things other people can do. So we started collaborating
among ourselves in Africa to try and solve this problem,” he remarked. It is not only their own populations who need to think differently – the World Bank has also come to have a change of heart from the 1980s when it advised African governments not to invest in universities. “We must change also the mindset of the international community. We are investing in research and beginning to see some results,” he added. “We believe that things will change.” In contrast, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has embraced entrepreneurialism since its founding 32 years ago, particularly in nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among its students. More than 1,700 start-ups, nine unicorns and 12 IPOs have been launched from the university. At the same time, said its President Professor Nancy Y Ip, fundamental research should not be eclipsed. “How can universities advance scientific knowledge, but also produce science that can really help to address global challenges? I think this is a very important question,” she remarked. “There needs to be a delicate balance between academic research and developing practical solutions. This is not an easy task, but I believe both are pivotal.” HKUST includes research impact in its evaluation criteria, such as whether the research has resulted in a technology,
One of the biggest problems we face is changing the mindset of our people, who don’t believe that they can do things other people can do. …We must change also the mindset of the international community. We are investing in research and beginning to see some results.
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe Vice Chancellor, Makerere University
methodology, product, or intangible contribution to culture or government policy. But at the same time, blue sky research is supported by the provision of funding and infrastructure, such as central research facilities. To bring research and impact together, HKUST has made solid connections with industry by establishing joint labs that benefit researchers and students. It is also establishing an innovation technology park that will offer incubation, facilities and platforms for businesses and academia to work together, and it continues to offer programmes that nurture entrepreneurship through engagement with industry. “We as higher education leaders really need to shape our universities as hubs to not only support academic research, but also drive innovation and help our colleagues actualise their research findings,” she stressed. “I would very much like to empower our faculty and students to be not only knowledge producers, but also changemakers. And through their work, to make a positive impact on society.” The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego), has similarly focused on creating infrastructure and
programmes to support the pursuit of innovation by staff and students. Led by Chancellor Pradeep K Khosla, it is building a large research park on campus where selected small, medium and large companies can have a base for working with researchers and students. “The demand is going to be way more than the space we have. We want to build an ecosystem,” he said. New measures have also been implemented to promote and support innovation. UC San Diego has restructured its equity in start-ups to five per cent and streamlined the negotiating process. Students of all disciplines are being encouraged to engage in innovation, beyond the “cocoon” of business and engineering disciplines, at a state-of-the-art building with a 3D manufacturing facility, design facility and other features, where at any given time 60 teams are incubated with support and start- up funds. A separate programme targets underserved communities to equip them with the skills to be self- starters. “My mandate to them is to understand how to identify opportunities, to look at the risks in those opportunities, to plan on how to execute those opportunities and
19
20
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker