Cultivating a research culture in Tanzanian higher education

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are primarily responsible for producing high-quality research and training the next generation of researchers to achieve socio-economic development. However, empirical evidence suggests that a significant number of HEIs in Tanzania and sub-Saharan Africa generally have limited involvement in research. This situation requires an in-depth analysis of how this challenge is addressed. This paper1 reports the findings of a study that examined how Tanzanian HEIs cultivate a research culture. Data were generated through interviews with senior leaders, academic staff and postgraduate students from four public and private Tanzanian HEIs. The study found that research culture is cultivated by creating research governance tools; reinforcing desired research behaviours; building research capacity; supporting research dissemination; and promoting research collaboration and networking. Overall, these approaches to research development were found to be less rigorous in fostering a robust research culture because many structural constraints remain that need to be addressed by key stakeholders in the higher education sector. Universities committed to cultivating a research culture should prioritise strategies that promote an equitable, transparent and inclusive research environment that recognises and supports academics as critical thinkers, researchers, educators and learners rather than simply as producers of measurable research outputs.