Influence of research collaboration on research excellence in Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to examine the extent to which research collaboration has influenced research productivity and impact in Kenya, the latter two being critical indicators of research excellence. The relevant data was extracted from Elsevier’s SciVal analytical tool. Descriptive statistics and correlation and regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The study’s findings reveal that Kenya’s research is highly collaborative; collaboration varied across 27 research fields; university–industry collaboration is on the rise, albeit slowly; and international collaboration accounts for over 80% of co-authored papers in Kenya. The study found a significant link between research collaboration and research productivity, on the one hand, and research collaboration and impact, on the other. Given the findings, the conclusion can be made that research collaboration influences research excellence in Kenya and, as such, strategies should be put in place to safeguard the gains made, while harnessing further research collaboration initiatives to enhance research excellence in the country.