A scientometric analysis of the science system in Tanzania

Date
2021-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main goal of the study was to conduct an assessment of the state of science in Tanzania. More specific objectives focused on the levels of research investment, human resources for S&T, and the research performance of the system. In addition we also investigated the challenges that young scientists in the country face. Our study shows that Tanzanian expenditure in R&D remains still below 1% of GDP and lags behind several African countries including Kenya the sister EAC country. In spite of the slight increase in spending in R&D from 0.38% in 2010 to 0.53% of the GDP in 2013, there is still overdependence on international funding sources. It was also found that the lack of research funding and funding for research equipment are the biggest challenges in the performance of research for young scientists. The study also found that Tanzania's human resources for S&T remains unacceptably small compared to several SADC countries, which results in relative low output per million of the population. However, it was revealed that there was a gradual increase in Tanzania scientific outputs from 339 publications in the year 2005 to 1389 publications in 2018 which is more than four times the growth of literature. In spite of the increase in the publications across all research fields,Tanzania dropped its position in world rank from position 74 in 2005 to position 80 in 2018. Tanzanian science remains strong in its traditional fields: the relative strength analysis revealed that the agricultural and health sciences, and to a lesser extent, the social sciences, are the most active fields compared to the world output across these fields. The overall top five prolific R&D institutions in the production of scientific papers are the MUHAS, UDSM, SUA, NIMR, and IHI. International co-authorship is on the increase in most fields, but these trends probably reflect the growing participation of Tanzanian scientists in global health and agricultural projects rather than any substantive growth in research collaboration. Our main recommendation is that the Tanzanian government commits to increasing its investment in R&D as aspired to by the R&D policy. In addition, the number of R&D personnel has to be increased to ensure that knowledge production continues to grow and the application of science, technology, and innovation for inclusive development is achieved.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoof oogmerk van hierdie studie was om ‘n waardering te doen van die stand van wetenskap in Tanzanië. Meer spesifieke doelwitte van die studie het gefokus op die finansiering van navorsing, die menslike hulpronne vir wetenskap en tegnologie en die oorkopelende prestasie van die navorsingstelsel. Die studie het ook ontledings gedoen van die uitdagings wat jong wetenskaplikes moet oorkom in hul loopbane as wetenskaplikes. Ons studie toon aan dat Tanzanië se besteding aan navorsing en ontwikkeling (N&O) onder die teiken van 1% van Bruto Binnelandse Produk (BBP) bly en dat dit selfs laer is as dié van sy buurland Kenia. Ten spyte van ‘n klein toename in die besteding aan N&O van 0,38% in 2010 tot 0,53% in 2018 as proporsie van BBP, is dit steeds die geval dat die wetenskapsisteem grootliks afhanklik bly van internasionale navorsingsfinansiering. Die studie het ook gevind dat die gebrek aan navorsingsfinansiering en spesifiek die finansiering van wetenskaplike toerusting van die grootste uitdagings is wat jong navorsers moet oorkom. Die ontleding van die menslike hulpbronne vir navorsing toon dat Tanzanië nie goed vergelyk met die meeste van die Suid-Afrikaanse Ontwikkelingsgemeenskap lande nie. Alhoewel daar tussen 2005 en 2018 ‘n toename in publikasies was (van 339 tot 1389), het Tanzanië se posisie op die ranglys van wêreldlande verswak van posisie 74 in 2005 tot posisie 80 in 2018. Die wetenskapsisteem in Tanzanië is steeds sterk in tradisionele velde soos landbounavorsing, mediese en gesondheidsnavorsing en, in ‘n mindere mate, die sosiale wetenskappe. Die vyf mees produktiewe navorsingsinstellings was MUHAS, UDSM, SUA, NIMR, en IHI. Internasionale mede-outeurskap in die meeste wetenskaplike velde het toegeneem. Maar dit is belangrik om te noem dat hierdie toename waarskynlik eerder gedryf word deur die groterwordende deelname van Tanzaniese wetenskaplikes in internasionele projekte as ‘n substantiewe groei in navorsing samewerking. Ons belangrikste aanbeveling is dat die Tanzaniese regering sigself moet verbind tot ‘n substansiële toename in besteding aan N&O soos eksplisiet in nasionale beleidsdokumente aangedui word. Verder is dit ewe belangrik dat die getal wetenskaplike navorsers in die land beduidend verhoog moet word ten einde te verseker dat kennis produksie sal floreer en die toepassing van wetenskap, tegnologie en innovasie vir inklusiewe ontwikkeling sal realiseer.
Description
Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Bibliometrics, Communication in science, Communication of technical information, Scientific literature, Research -- Evaluation -- Africa, Scientific research -- Africa, Science -- Social aspects -- Africa, Technology -- Social aspects -- Africa, Scientometric analysis
Citation