Change in Research Paradigm and the Enhancement of Relevance of State Higher Education System in Cameroon

This study was designed to examine change in research paradigm and the enhancement of relevance of state higher education system in Cameroon. This study has as major objective to evaluate how change in research paradigm enhances relevance in state higher education system in Cameroon. With specific interest on; recommendations to improve on research output in university institution, changes in research activities expected in university institution and if changes in research paradigm (approaches, method and funding) will improve the relevance of higher education. The concurrent mixed-methods research design was adopted for the study. Questionnaire and an interview guide were the instruments used for the study. The sample population for the study was made up of 1,915 lecturers, and 40 administrators (HODs) from the universities of Buea, Yaounde II, Douala, Bamenda, Yaounde I, Dschang, Maroua and Ngaoundere. The purposive and stratified sampling techniques was adopted for the study. Data from close ended questions was analysed using SPSS 23.0, with the aid of descriptive and inferential statistical tools while open ended questions and the interview were analysed thematically. The Spearman’s rho was used to test the lone research hypotheses. Majority of the 45.8% of lecturers indicate the need for change in research paradigm for the Enhancement of Relevance in Higher Education. Hypothetically, there is a significant, positive and strong relationship between change in research paradigm and the enhancement of relevance of state Universities (R- value 0.458**, p-value < 0.001 < 0.05). The positive sign of the correlation value implies that changes in research paradigm will contribute to the enhancement of higher education relevance and this is supported with a high explanatory power of 87.2% (Nagelkerke statistics= 0.872) and this was also accepted by 83.3% (1431) of lecturers. Thus, the null hypothesis was rejected while the alternative was accepted. It is recommended that, research seminars/workshop, more grants, research center and library, research results implemented, and research should reflect contextual realities. As changes in research paradigms can improve the relevance of higher education if suitable to the actual challenges we meet in the country. ARTICLE’S INFO