The State of Research in Technical Universities: Evidence from four Ghanaian Technical Universities

Abstract

This study sought to establish the state of research in Ghanaian Technical Universities (TUs) using a desktop research approach. The study was necessitated by the fact that little investigation if any, had been conducted into the research output of the TUs since they became universities in 2016. The secondary data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics, mainly frequencies and averages Regardless of the differences between the TUs, the total number of publications per annum was 249, an average of 62.25 publications per TU. The minimum and maximum numbers of publications per TU were 20 publications and 107 publications, respectively, per annum. On the international stage, the study points to the need for an increase in the research output of the TUs. It is recommended that individual TUs should put in place specific strategies meant to increase research output. These strategies may include mentoring, partnerships and implementing the governments’ promotion criteria that requires research and publication.