Assessing successes of knowledge sharing strategies at Egerton University from the perspectives of livestock value chain actors

Abstract

Agricultural universities invest substantial resources in postgraduate research and generate knowledge products with the aim of providing practical solutions to known practical constraints impeding productivity in the livestock value chains. However, enhancing utilization of the knowledge products by the target beneficiary actors in the value chain has remained a challenge because of not using effective knowledge sharing strategies. Consequently, the gaps between research outputs and uptake are still large. Using a case study of Egerton University, which is reputed for agricultural research and training, this research aimed at determining (i) the most frequently used knowledge sharing strategies, (ii) most targeted actors, (iii) preferences and perceptions that actors have on the relevance and accessibility of the knowledge products and sharing strategies, and (iv) skills in use by the actors that they can associate with the knowledge products generated at Egerton University. Data was collected through desktop review of theses defended between January 2005 and December 2011, and a stratified random sampling cross-sectional survey of livestock value chain actors. The sampled knowledge products most frequently targeted operators in the livestock value chain. Dissemination of the knowledge products was 25 to 29 times more (P<0.0001) through the library than any other sharing strategy examined, despite the limited access to the library by most actors. The actors perceived media briefs to be the most accessible and scientific publications the least accessible. Actors considered Masters Theses more relevant to their knowledge needs than the Doctorate Theses. Of knowledge and skills presently used by actors in their enterprises, majority (61%) did not associate any of the knowledge and skills they were using to have been generated at Egerton University. Instead, most actors were applying knowledge and skills that they learnt on their own over a period of time. These results imply that the defined primary beneficiaries of knowledge products from the university are actually not reached. This research provides an opportunity for universities to take greater participation roles in extension and outreach programs to directly transfer their knowledge products to primary beneficiaries.