Globalization, democratization and knowledge production
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This doctoral study is linked to the Public Knowledge Project, University of British Columbia (http://www.pkp.ubc.ca/) INTRODUCTION As a new nation, South Africa is faced with challenges that are both local and global. At the local level, the country needs to build a democratic society from the devastation left behind in the wake of apartheid. Concurrently, South Africa, like all developing countries, needs to find its niche in a globalized world economy that is knowledge-based (White Paper 1997, as cited in Kraak, 2001, p. 20). Technology, innovation, knowledge production and higher education are often identified as the key ingredients for the successful development and progress of countries (Bhagwati, 2002; Brown et al., 2001; Carnoy, 2000; Mokyr, 1990; O’ Rourke & Williamson, 2000). The new higher education policies emphasise that universities – as the main producers of knowledge, high skills, and as transmitters of culture – have a dual role to play in the transformation process in terms of both democratization and globalization. At the local level, the research activities of universities can contribute towards solving the tremendous social problems facing the country and assist in reconfiguring notions of culture, identity and diversity in South African society (Cloete et al., 1999). At the global level, knowledge creation, innovation and high skills formation at the university may help to position the country as a competitive player in this global knowledge-based economy. Currently, our universities confront the dual challenge of ensuring that their programmes are responsive to the needs of a changing society while at the same time establishing academic standards that will set South Africa on par with tertiary education internationally. Exchange rates have limited our access to research and scholarship and have made it difficult for our universities to keep up with global knowledge developments. Instead, global developments in technology have tended to increase the gap between the developed and developing nations. A handful of developed countries have dominated the publishing and dissemination of knowledge. Taking into account the rising cost of research and publication, it may be worthwhile to consider how the academic and public value of research may be enhanced with the support of new technologies. Yet little research has been conducted on the research capacity of South African universities in the light of transformation and bounding technological innovations and, on the impact of the new policies on academics and their research. Consider, for example, that universities may be able to contribute to social transformation by enabling greater public access to relevant research through the Web. As things now stand, researchers generate the knowledge with the hope that it will benefit humankind, yet there is little coordination between those who generate the knowledge (researchers), those who apply the knowledge (policymakers, legal professionals, teachers, physicians and social workers) and those on whose behalf the knowledge is applied (the public). PURPOSEThe purpose of this research is to examine how globalization and transformation have impacted on knowledge production at South African universities and, to determine whether new technologies, in particular, “open access”, may assist in building research capacity at South African universities. The questions that I ask are: How has the recent transformation affected research at South African universities? How have global changes, such as new technologies, new modes of production and resource constraints, impacted on research at South African universities? How have these changes affected HWU’s and HBU’s differently? To what extent would “open access” to research and scholarship, made possible by new technologies, contribute to building research capacity in South Africa? What do researchers, librarians and administrators believe might be the public value of knowledge? How do researchers perceive their changing identities as researchers in a transforming society? METHODOLOGY The study will be conducted at three sites in the Eastern Cape, Rhodes University, the University of Fort Hare and the University of Port Elizabeth. Research methods include a survey, interviews and document analysis. Interviews will be conducted with librarians, academics and postgraduate students from a range of disciplines and, administrators / policymakers. Documents related to research policy will be collected and analysed. The research findings may describe the extent to which technology is being used in research and how its use may be exploited in increasing access to scholarship and in building research capacity at our universities. It will inform us whether South African researchers consider it desirable to increase their participation in the local and global scholarly community in ways that will enrich the exchange of knowledge for the benefit of all. This research may inform academics, policy makers and donors what the first steps might be in restructuring publishing and knowledge management technologies in the future so that universities may contribute to sustainable social development.
We seek your consent to use your response in reporting the findings of this study. You have the options of either complete anonymity or a crediting of your contribution. You have the right to refuse to participate or to change your mind about these options at any time during the study. If you have any concerns about your rights or treatment as a research participant, you may contact Dr. Richard Spratley, Director of the UBC Office of Research Services and Administration, at 822-8598. This study has been approved by Research Ethics Committee (Certificate B99-0180). Yours sincerely, Ms Saloshini Muthayan Co-Investigator / PhD candidate: Literacy and Technology Tel/fax: Sincerely, J The Public Knowledge Project (http://pkp.ubc.ca/) Public Knowledge Project: Research Capacity and Technology at South African Universities Name of Participant: _____________________________________________ Affiliation: _____________________________________________ Please sign here to acknowledge that you have received a copy of the consent form for your own records. Signature of participant:_____________________________________________ Date: Please sign here to acknowledge that you have consented to participate in the Public Knowledge Project as described on this form Signature of participant:_____________________________________________ Date: Please state whether you prefer anonymity or a crediting of your contribution: _______________ Sincerely, Principal Investigators: John Willinsky: Pacific Press Professor of Literacy and Technology Bonny Norton: Associate Professor Language and Literacy Education
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B. ACCESS TO RESEARCH RESOURCES
C. KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION
D. LINKAGES AND NETWORKING
this institution; the other two universities in the study; other South African universities and; universities internationally.
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