| dc.description.abstract | Universities are now at the centre of the knowledge economy where they are expected to innovate, and
use the knowledge they generate to serve the public as well as contribute to economic growth and
competitiveness. Many countries globally have pursued Commercialization of University research to
increase their national competitiveness, to generate funds for more research and development in order to
optimize the returns on taxpayer’s investments and the use of research results. This study intended to
examine the factors influencing Research outputs of Selected Universities in Kenya. The study objectives
were to determine how research funding influences Research outputs in Selected Public Universities in
Kenya; to establish how University Researchers Characteristics influences Research Outputs in Selected
Public Universities in Kenya; to investigate how Industrial Involvement influences Research Outputs in
Selected Public Universities in Kenya and to examine how Institutional Administrative structures
influence Research outputs of Selected Public Universities in Kenya. The study reviewed past studies on
the topic and identified a knowledge gap. This research problem was studied using a descriptive research
design. The target population was 161 University Researchers from University of Nairobi, Kenyatta
University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology which represent public
Universities in Kenya. The study employed Krejcie and Morgan’s table for determining sample size to
come up with a sample size of 113 respondents. The study relied on questionnaires to collect quantitative
was cleaned, coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) Software Version
20. A pilot study to pretest and validate the questionnaire was done, the questionnaire was deemed
reliable as it scored reliability coefficient of above 0.8 estimated using the split-half reliability test. The
content validity was tested through expert opinion. The results were summarized into frequencies,
percentages and correlation tables and the explanation presentedin prose. The results indicate that
research outputs of Selected Public Universities in Kenya is influenced by Research Funding, Industrial
Involvement, University Researchers Characteristics and also by Institutional Administrative Structures.
The study concludes that research funding, University Researcher Characteristics, Industrial Involvement
and Institutional factors influences Research outputs in Public Universities in Kenya. The study
recommends, increasing research funding beyond the final report, development of a National
Commercialization Policy in Kenya, linking Universities Researchers with the Industry and sensitization
of University Researchers on Commercialization and IPR for University researchers to be able to move
beyond the publications and conference presentations stages and commercialize their research results.
Future studies on Research outputs from Public Universities in Kenya could focus on all Public
Universities and Influence of Academic Research on Economic Development. | en_US |
