Determinants of Research Productivity of Academic Staff in Somali National University, Mogadishu

Abstract

This study explored the determinants of research productivity (RP) of academic staff in Somalia's Somali National University (SNU). It was guided by three study objectives which associated individual characteristics, institutional characteristics, and leadership characteristics as determinants of research productivity of academic staff. Reportedly low levels of research productivity among academic staff in most higher education institutions (HEIs) in Somalia prompted the study. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design; the researcher collected data using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire from a target sample of 186 academic staff drawn across ten faculties of the SNU. The data were analysed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The study's findings revealed no significant relationship between institutional characteristics and the research productivity of academic staff at SNU, while individual characteristics and leadership characteristics were significantly positively related to the research productivity of academic staff. Therefore, the study concluded that institutional characteristics were not significantly related to the research productivity of academic staff, whereas individual characteristics and leadership characteristics were both significantly positively related to the research productivity of academic staff.Therefore, the study recommended that the university and government improve the university's lecturers and managers to increase the research productivity of the staff of the University.