Faculty scholarly publications and institutional repository development: An assessment of Kabale University institutional repository

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess faculty scholarly publications and the development of Kabale University institutional repository which was guided by the following objectives: To establish the current faculty scholarly publication contribution to Kabale University institutional repository, To examine the management of Kabale University institutional repository, To identify the challenges of faculty contribution of scholarly publications to Kabale University institutional repository and To propose strategies for enhancing faculty contribution of scholarly publications to Kabale University institutional repository. The study adopted descriptive and case study research designs and adopted both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Population of the study was 236 respondents and the sample size was 148 respondents. Data collection methods used in this study included: Survey questionnaire, in-depth interviews, observation and document analysis. The findings revealed an upward trend in faculty members' awareness of the university's institutional repository since majority of the respondents as represented by 91.9% agreed that they were aware of the repository's existence. From the findings, it was indicated that faculty members at Kabale University have mixed perceptions regarding the staffing of the repository whereby 42.5% of respondents disagreed that the repository was appropriately staffed with full-time personnel while a larger proportion agreed. From the findings, it was revealed that lack of motivation, commitment, limited staffing and support are some of the challenges facing the repository. The strategies to enhance faculty publication contribution to the repository included advocacy efforts, refresher trainings and provision of incentives to the researchers who deposit publications to the repository. The study recommended enhancement of communication through faculty meetings, Emails and newsletters to enhance faculty contribution. On management of the repository, the study recommended increased staffing, enactment of repository policy, improve repository infrastructure and budgetary allocations to the repository. Reduction of faculty laxity to contribute and reduction of depositing bureaucracy can overcome challenges facing the repository. The study finally recommended that needs assessment surveys, advocacy efforts, refresher trainings, provision of incentives, provision of reliable power backups and Library staff visiting faculties to gather repository content are some of the strategies to enhance faculty contribution to Kabale University repository.