Re-engineering research and innovation information in university libraries in Uganda for small and medium enterprises.

Doctor of Philosophy in Information Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2019.Globally, enormous amounts of research are generated in universities; however, in Uganda, not much of this research cascades to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which contribute 75% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since university libraries are expected to support teaching, learning, research and community engagement in the surrounding communities, these libraries ought to reposition themselves to become conduits of disseminating Research and Innovation (R&I) to SMEs and other partners in development. The purpose of this study was to investigate how university libraries in Uganda can repackage R&I information and disseminate it to SMEs. The study addresses two broad objectives namely: 1) To investigate how University libraries in Uganda are facilitating access to R&I information for use by SMEs in the agricultural sector in Uganda; and 2) To find out the extent to which University libraries in Uganda repackage R&I information for use by SMEs in the agricultural sector. This study was underpinned by three theories namely: LibQUAL+TM, Modern theories of management and Wilson’s 1999 model of Information seeking behaviour. The study adopted a post-positivist research paradigm and an exploratory research design. Mixed methods epistemology was employed. Quantitative and qualitative data were therefore collected from a large sample of respondents from 6 universities that offer graduate agricultural programmes and from 231 SMEs in the agricultural sector. The respondents consisted of university librarians, heads of library research and innovation units, university heads of IT, Agricultural academic staff, graduate agricultural students and proprietors of SMEs in the agricultural sector in the central region of Uganda. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS to generate descriptive and inferential statistics where frequencies, percentages and chi square were used, while the qualitative data was analysed through content analysis. The findings revealed that the research carried out in universities was beneficial to SMEs, mainly in areas of increasing the SMEs productivity, identifying training opportunities, and starting up new business ventures. A third of the respondents disclosed that currently Ugandan university libraries do not have an enabling environment for SMEs to access R&I information mainly because of inaccessible format in which R&I information is packaged. However, university libraries could re-engineer their R&I information services to serve SMEs mainly through digitisation, carrying out community engagement programmes targeting SMEs, and repackaging R&I information. The study among others recommended that R&I information should be repackaged from print to short documentaries, newsletters, using social media, translating it from English to local languages and broadcasting it on radios and televisions to make it suitable for SMEs

Data Literacy: A catalyst for improving research publication productivity of Kyambogo University Academic Staff

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore how data literacy can influence the research and publications productivity of Kyambogo University academic staff.Methods: The study employed a literature review to collect detailed information. It observed lessons, and studied patterns of the phenomenon to explore data literacy initiatives that can be used by Kyambogo University academic staff to improve their research publications productivity and also to mitigate the accrued challenges. Results: The paper explored eight initiatives through which data literacy skills could enhance the research productivity of Kyambogo University academic staff. These were awareness and promoting freedom of using open data, engaging students in data literacy activities, pedagogical reflection, datafication of single and joint academic staff publications, visualization of data, storytelling, ethical use of data, and preservation of research data. Conclusions: While this paper relies on the context of the Kyambogo University academic staff, the authors posit that these data literacy skills can be embraced by universities in developing economies; especially those struggling with poor research and publications productivity. The paper further identifies areas where universities in developing economies, in conjunction with their libraries, can improve the academic staff pedagogy and compliance to eScience through polishing their data literacies

Exploratory Study on the Drivers and Barriers to Adoption of an Integrated Library System in Kyambogo University Library Service

The adoption of Integrated Library Systems (ILS) helps library staff to automate libraries’ routine operations. While some libraries are coping well with automation, others most especially in Sub Saharan Africa face challenges and setbacks. The purpose of the study is to explore the adoption of an open source ILS, Koha, at Kyambogo University Library Service (KyULS). The study employs a qualitative approach where data is gathered using semi-structured interviews. Collected data was analysed using content analysis. The results of the study indicate that the drivers for adopting an ILS in KyULS are: qualified staff members, Koha being an open source software, training, and library automation trends in sister university libraries. The barriers to ILS adoption on the other hand included: lack of infrastructure, internet instability, insufficient funding, bureaucracy and the ILS’s unsuitability to persons with visual impairment. This report further provides recommendations to alleviate or resolve the difficulties that are hampering KyULS specifically and potentially other libraries when adopting ILSs. They include having a well-planned process of adopting the ILS, provision of a centralised and stable campus-wide inter/intranet network, establishment of required ILS infrastructure, sourcing of external funding, carrying out wide spread sensitisation of the ILS, continuously training the library staff members in the use of the ILS and collaboration with ILS adoption champions in other academic libraries. This study may be of value to academic librarians, LIS schools and ILS vendors globally as it helps them better understand the unique challenges faced by libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa.Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2014.Information ScienceMITUnrestricte