Exhibit 3.2: REDEFINING THE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP AT USIU A Research Agenda Concept

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Exhibit 3.2REDEFINING THE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP
AT USIUA Research Agenda Concept

• Dr. Francis W. Wambalaba, PhD., AICP
• Director
• Office of Research and Program Development

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Background Context

• Research Weakness at USIU
• Previous strength in teaching community
  service.
• Concerns by WASC, CHE Stakeholders about
  Research at USIU.
• Opportune Time for USIU Research
• Office and Director for RAPD.
• Time for Strategic Plan.
• Government Interest in University Research.

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Overview

• Objectives
• Present current vision of the research
  directorate.
• Engage faculty in the development of the research
  agenda at USIU.
• Anticipated Outcomes
• An Engaged Faculty.
• A Research Agenda.
• Subtopic Areas
• The Decision Making Process
• The Research Agenda at USIU
• The Research Concept Vision

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1. Decision Making Process

• The decision making process is anticipated to be
  informed through three key avenues
• The Grants and Research Coordinating Committee.
• The Research Technical Subcommittee.
• Stakeholder Forums and Surveys.

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a) Grants Research Coordinating Committee

• Objectives
• Provides guidance on strategies funding.
• Reviews progress made.
• Makes recommendations on key decisions.
• To meet once a semester.

• Includes
• Deans of Respective Schools.
• Director of IPD who also provides the
  secretariat.
• Director of CELT
• The Librarian
• IT Director
• Alumni representative.
• Director of RAPID as its chair
• DVCAA attends by choice

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b) Research Technical Subcommittee

• Objectives
• Advice on planning, implementation and operation
  strategies for managing research agenda.
• Identify areas of opportunities and challenges.
• Meets once a month

• Includes
• Directors of Research Centers
• CEED
• SUDC
• Others to come.
• Chair of Faculty Senate Academic and Research
  Committee
• Chair of IRB,
• Student Affairs Council rep.
• Director of RAPD chairs subcommittee

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c) Stakeholder Forums Surveys

• Forums
• Faculty colloquia.
• Research outcomes development process.
• Research centers concept.

• Surveys
• Faculty profile surveys.
• Faculty research agenda process.

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2. The Research Agenda at USIUTwo Concurrent
Phases

• The transition phase of the research agenda.
• Developing a Research Culture Inventory at
  USIU.
• Redefining Research Scholarship.

• Embedding Research Process in Long Range
  Planning.
• Research Plan Concept.
• Context of Academic Plan.
• Context of Strategic Plan.

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a) Redefining Research Scholarship at USIU

• Three Philosophical Aspects Worth Considering.
• Role of Research at Universities.
• Pedagogy and Scholarship.
• Applied Versus Abstract or Basic Research

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i) Role of Research at UniversitiesSchool/Univer
sity Dichotomy

• Humboldts 1810 dichotomy between university and
  school.
• School is concerned essentially with agreed and
  accepted knowledge.
• University treats scholarship always in terms of
  not yet completely solved problems, whether in
  research or teaching
• The teacher is then not there for the sake of
  the student, but both have their justification in
  the service of scholarship.
• Role of faculty and students is to enhance
  scholarship defined by Ashby (1958) as the
  empirical approach to knowledge.

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ii) Pedagogy Scholarship Dichotomy

• Elton (2008) in his paper on Scholarship of
  Teaching Learning (SOTL) attempts to narrow
  Humboldts dichotomy.
• Argues for a synthesis between
• Disciplinary as well as generic teaching and
  learning.
• with
• ..disciplinary research and research into
  teaching and learning.

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USIU Experience in Pedagogy and Scholarship

• Both disciplinary research into scholarship.
• Scholarship indirectly informing on Pedagogy
• Revealing from faculty profile.
• Scholarship directly informing on Pedagogy
• Disciplinary Research.
• Case Studies Research
• Conference Researching Teaching in French.
• Simulations Exercises (students research)
• SAS International Relations Model UN
• SBA Strategic Management Course
• Research into Scholarship.
• August 2008 Symposium
• Quality Assurance in Higher Ed.

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iii) Applied Versus Abstract or Basic Research
Dichotomy.

• Applied research is designed to solve practical
  problems of the modern world
• rather than to acquire knowledge for knowledge's
  sake
• Goal is to improve the human condition
• necessitated by the problems resulting from
  global overpopulation, pollution, the overuse of
  the earth's natural resources etc.

• Basic (fundamental or pure ) research is driven
  by a scientist's curiosity or interest in a
  scientific question.
• The main motivation is to expand man's knowledge
  , not to create or invent something.

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Emerging TrendsExperience in the United States

• Major government research funding geared towards
  applied research.
• National Science Foundation (NSF),
• The US Energy Department
• The National Institute of Health (NIH)
• Industry which due to stiff competition has also
  redirected business funding towards applied
  research

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Experience at USIU

• Amb. D. Kikaya, UN HABITAT Grant,
• Evaluation of Mshariki innovations in local
  governance Awards program (MILGAP)
• Prof. J. Kahindi, Global Environment Facility
  (GEF) and United Nations Environment Program
  (UNEP) Fund,
• Conservation and Management of Below Ground
  Biodiversity Project.
• Dr. F. Wambalaba, ICBE/Trust Africa Grant,
• Public-Private Alliances A Case Study of
  Strategies for Urban Restoration in Kenya.
• Dr. F. Wambalaba, CHE Grant,
• Determinants and Strategies for Improved Water
  Supply for Rural Peasants in Kenya.
• Dr. M. Muniafu, The 1420 Foundation Grant,
• Sustainable Development Education
• Dr. M. Muniafu, AWSE and ICRAF, Funded,
• Integrating HIV/AIDS into existing undergraduate
  common courses.
• Dr. J. Arasa, Codesria, Grant,
• Reproductive health and rights of persons with
  disabilities.

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3. Proposed Research Concept Vision

• Strengthening Faculty Academic Research
• Strengthening Student Academic Research
• Strengthening Research Support Services

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a) Vision for Strengthening Faculty Academic
Research

• Enhance Existing Research Centers
• Enhance CEED
• Formalize SUDIC
• Create New Research Centers
• Initiate International Relations Communications
  Center
• Initiate Center for Public Policy and Non
  Governmental Studies
• Develop a Forum for Exchange of Ideas
• Host conferences workshops
• Initiate Faculty Colloquium
• Public Lecture Series
• Select proceedings for publications (see 3c
  below).

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b) Vision for Strengthening Student Academic
Research

• Streamline thesis/project process
• Introduce graduate student advisor system
• Develop guidelines for graduate student
  supervisory process
• Develop and harmonize research handbooks
• Expand the graduate student colloquium
• Introduce a research colloquium class
• Introduce an after research workshop for
  practitioners
• Select findings or proceedings for publications
  (see 3c below).
• Develop a Graduate Student Research program
• Institutionalize and implement GRA pool program
• Enhance graduate research mentorship
• Initiate an undergraduate university scholars
  program
• Forum for undergraduate student scholarship
  engagement
• Develop a university honors program writing
  thesis.

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c) Vision for Strengthening Research Support
Services

• Promote a culture of grant funded activities
• Engage government for research funding.
• Solicit and engage faculty to solicit research
  grants
• Support and enhance the case writing culture
• Solicit and engage faculty to solicit funded
  training opportunities
• Institutionalize grant writing workshops.
• Develop a Research Park concept
• Collaborative partnerships with government for
  research contracts.
• Collaborative partnerships with business for
  research contracts.
• Collaborative partnerships with non-governmental
  for research contracts

• Revive University Publications
• Start use of ISBN designation
• Publish journals
• Publish books
• Develop Policy Guidelines
• Guidelines for research centers
• Guidelines for collaborative research
• Guidelines for Human Subjects
• Guidelines for Student Research Papers (grad
  undergrad).

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Concluding Observations

• Importance of thinking beyond our region.
• Academia is very much international.
• Create a rising tide to lift all the boats.
• Attraction and retention of alumni funding.
• With grants, you can write own cheque.
• You set your own rates (competitive international
  rates).
• Include equipment (lap tops, printers etc).
• Need to be engaged.
• Professional growth.

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Next Colloquia

• July 2, Peter Kiriri, Entrepreneurship Education
  in MBA Program at USIU
• July 7, Moses Onyango, Post Conflict
  Reconstruction in Kenya, Kenya China Trade
  Relations, Inclusiveness in Academic institutions
  in Kenya.
• July 16, Tabitha Ndungu, Multidisciplinary
  Approach in Research
• July 23, Mwanashehe Mohamed, Trials and
  tribulations of Womens Wholesale/Retail
  Businesses.
• July 30, Akosa Wambalaba, Public-Private
  Partnerships.
• Now Accepting Fall 2008 Proposals

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Thank You

• Dr. Francis W. Wambalaba, PhD., AICP
• Director
• Office of Research and Program Development (RAPD)