Abstract
The chapter provides a concerted framework in which SUC has achieved its mission on promoting research culture among faculty members and students. The chapter provides the chronological portrayal of a SUC developed effective strategic plan with different components, how it has been successfully executed, and how it has achieved the defined results of promoting research culture. Notwithstanding the explanation about the promotion of research culture, the chapter portrays the development and execution of different research aspects through an Approach, Deployment, Results, and Improvement (ADRI) approach. The chapter also discusses the learning from the case for the readers to imbibe and implement.
TopBackground
A higher education institution is a system to achieve all or some of the three major tasks: educate people, service a community, and conduct research or/and consultancy. It integrates its components: physical (hardware) such as land, building, tools, and facilities; logical (software) such as values, philosophy, bylaws, and policies; and stakeholders (students, staff and community) to achieve its goals.
Scientific Research
A research is defined as systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject (research, n.d.) Conducting research involves: Identification of research problem, Literature review, Specifying the purpose of the research, Determine specific research questions or hypotheses, Data collection, Analyzing and interpreting the data, and Reporting and evaluating research.
“The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the scientific method as: “a method or procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.” Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses via predictions which can be derived from them. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many independently derived hypotheses together in a coherent, supportive structure. Theories, in turn, may help form new hypotheses or place groups of hypotheses into context. Scientific inquiry is generally intended to be as objective as possible in order to reduce biased interpretations of results. Another basic expectation is to document, archive and share all data and methodology so they are available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, giving them the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This practice, called full disclosure, also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established (when data is sampled or compared to chance)”(Scientific method, n.d.). “Scientific research is application of scientific method to the investigation of relationships among natural phenomenon, or to solve a medical or technical problem” (Scientific research, n.d.).
Key Terms in this Chapter
ADRI Approach: An adaptation of the Approach (strategies, structures and processes have been developed and why have they been chosen), Deployment (How have the strategies, structures and processes been put into practice), Results (What trends do the key performance indicators (KPIs) show and how do you know this), and Improvement (What is the process for reviewing the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Approach and Deployment).
Research: A systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a subject.
Scientific Method: A body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
Operation Plan: The process of linking strategic goals and objectives to tactical goals and objectives.
SWOT Analysis: Consists of Strengths (Significant factors that allow the institution to take advantage of opportunities or reduce the impact of barriers), weaknesses (Significant factors that can stand in the way of an institution taking advantage of opportunities or reducing the impact of barriers), opportunities (Significant factors that allow the institution to take action, and threats (Significant factors that stand in the way of the institution’s efforts to achieve its goals.
Strategic Planning: A HEIs process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.
Risk Register: A Risk Management tool commonly used in Project Management and organisational risk assessments.
Vision: A vision of a HEI is its goal—where it hopes to see it in the future.
Core Values: The behaviors, beliefs, and actions that a HEI finds important.
Mission: An overview of the steps planned to achieve the vision.