Multi-disciplinarity and Town-Gown Synergy: Sine qua non for Regional Industrialisation and Economic Transformation
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Date
2019-12
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Universites d’Abomey-Calavi Faculte Lettres, Langues, Art et Communication LASODYLA-REYO/UAC –2019, Benin Republic
Abstract
This paper examines the functionality of West African universities vis-à-vis their tripartite mandate—teaching, research and community service. Given that University research increases the body of theoretical knowledge, its application to societal problems, professional training for high-level jobs, and the education necessary for personality and societal development, this paper establishes the town-gown nexus as sine qua non for West African sub-regional industrialisation and economic transformation. It is scandalous that but for Cape Town University, South-Africa, ranked 200th of the top 1000 universities worldwide, Africa would have been completely missing on the top 200 list, going by the 2019 QS World University Ranking. Only three other (two South-African and one Egyptian) African Universities appear in the top 500. No West African university made that 1000 list. This study attempts an analytical and discussant study approach, utilising available source-materials—books, journals, unpublished theses and careful internet surfing. The business of universities is to identify societal problems and conduct researches to solve them. Findings show that most universities live in relative isolation from the larger society; as mono-causality and poor research dissemination have hitherto crippled the quest for creativity and innovation required to unleash sustainable development. Decrying the dilapidating state of Universities, the hub of structured research, the late Unilorin orator, Professor Shehu Jimoh, observed: “They refer to tertiary institutions, especially Universities as 'Ivory Towers' but I must say, with what is going on in these institutions of learning today, it would appear that the ivory has oozed out of the towers”. Thus, spirited efforts must be launched to restore the ivory to their dilapidating towers. We recommend, inter alia therefore, a paradigm shift from mono-causal to multi-inter-cum-trans-disciplinary research approach, and a proper synergy between the town and the gown as sine qua non for West African regional industrialisation and economic transformation.
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Keywords
Multi-disciplinarity, Town-Gown synergy, West Africa, Regional Industrialisation, Economic Transformation
Citation
Aboyeji, A.J. Aboyeji, O. S. and Adimula, R. A. (2019): Multi-disciplinarity and Town-Gown Synergy: Sine qua non for Regional Industrialisation and Economic Transformation. Revue des Sciences du Langage et de la Communication ReSciLac 10 (1); 277-292, Universites d’Abomey-Calavi Faculte Lettres, Langues, Art et Communication LASODYLA-REYO/UAC –2019, Benin Republic. December. Available on Stanford Library shelf at https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/11844535 OR http://www.worldcat.org/title/rescilac-revue-des-sciences-du-langage-et-da-la-communication/oclc/957341200