dc.description.abstract | Taking the case of Makerere University, this study delved into the rationale underlying university
participation in development planning and steps that universities could take to enhance their
partnership with government and the private sector. Data were collected from 381 respondents,
who included academic staff, managers and student leaders at the University. The respondents
suggested that the University should help the government in drawing and implementing development
plans, adding that this could provide a means of overcoming its antagonistic relationship with the
government. Regarding the steps the University could take to help government, they suggested that
it could tailor its research and teaching programs to complement the latter's efforts; restrain from
partisan politics; include more government representatives on its committees; and mobilize private
sector support for its programmes. Regarding government's role in harnessing the University's
contribution to national development, the respondents suggested that government should respect
the University's autonomy as well as its members' academic and democratic freedom. Finally, the
respondents argued for university-private-sector-alignment, urging that the University partners
with relevant private sector actors to design curricula and research programmes that, respectively,
produce graduates and information that are demanded in the contemporary market. | en_US |