Research output level at Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa: contributing factors and their implications

Abstract

Various factors contributing to the level of research output at the Durban of University of Technology (DUT) are investigated by this research and their implications to the University are also examined. Data are collected from six faculties at DUT. A stratified sample of 60 respondents is used, with the sample consisting of 30 experienced researchers and 30 emerging researchers, selected from the academic staff. Respondents are asked to complete a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, with the help of an interviewer. Space is provided for each of the questions in the questionnaire, to allow respondents to provide additional, relevant information, which might left out during the formulation of the questionnaire. A mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative techniques is used, while the analysis of primary data is done using SPSS, version 21.0. Results of the study reveal that the majority of respondents indicates various factors, including individual and institutional elements, as the main barrier to participate in doing research. This paper will benefit University management, academic staff, potential university academic staff, the university’s human resource department, other South African universities, the South Africa Department of Higher Education, the South African Council of High Education and South African education policy makers. The findings are limited by the study’s exploratory nature and only one university is considered. Generalization of this study should be done with care, while it is recommended that further research, with a large sample, should concentrate on the development of an academic workload allocation policy at the Universities and effective implementation of the policy encouraged.