Research infrastructure in Kenyan universities: Library and Information Communication Technology

Abstract

Research infrastructure plays a vital role in knowledge and technological advancement. Research infrastructure is important in academic research because excellence in research requires sound infrastructure for data collection, management, processing, analysis and archiving. This chapter examines the state of research infrastructure in Kenyan universities and recommends strategies for improvement. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from university academic staff, librarians and Information Communication Technology (ICT) staff drawn from two universities in Kenya. A sample of 110 was selected from a population of 427. The results indicate that library and Information Communication Technology (ICT) are the major research infrastructure in Kenyan universities. University libraries have created institutional repositories to preserve, archive and provide access to the works of faculty and researchers. However, there is inadequate documentation on research output and scholarly publication. Library and ICT units in Kenyan universities experienced challenges including: inadequate funds, inadequate current and relevant reading resources, unreliable Internet access and inadequate staff. University libraries rely mostly on e-resources obtained through the Kenya Library and Information Services Consortium (KLISC). The study recommended enhanced research funding and improved access to research infrastructure.