COMMERCIALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH RESULTS AS ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR FUNDING UNIVERSITY

This study examined the commercialization of educational research results as alternative means for funding university. The study was guided by proffering answers to some cardinal related questions. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study was 2382 staff of selected tertiary institutions. However, using Taro Yamene’s Sample size formula, a simple size of 299 university academic staff was drawn from the three selected universities in Rivers State (53 from Ignatius Ajuru University of education Rumuolumeni, 174 from University of Port Harcourt, and 72 from Rivers State University, Nkpolu).Consequently, 232 responses were successful. Using Likert scale as well as z-test to analyze the data, the study reveals positive presence of collaborative research, university/industry partnership, intellectual property, technology transfer and academic consultancy exerting significant relationships with university funding in Rivers State. The study concluded that collaborative research, university- industry partnership, intellectual property, technology transfer as well as academic consulting are significant elements of university education research result that are efficient to enhance both federal and state universities’ funding Rivers State if commercialized. This suggests that the commercialization of -Diversities’ educational research results will greatly increase funding ability of the universities. Therefore, the study recommended the establishment of research and development unit in the universities, embarking on collaborative research, university/industry partnership, favourable regulatory framework for intellectual property and technology transfer; and establishment of academic consulting services.