Creating an information technology and communication and knowledge-driven research in Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Abstract

The paper addresses the low research standing of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). SMU is a university established on 1st January 2015 in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Its weaknesses were inherited through history. The former Medical University of Sothern Africa (MEDUNSA) and University of Limpopo (UL) are the SMU’s predecessor universities from which SMU emerged. One main weakness is that UL appointed managers on Medunsa campus to head divisions but disregarding merit. Hence, many current SMU managers do not necessarily possess the qualities required for a research campus that is technology dominated. In particular, some staff and managerial appointments made prior to the SMU formation, which SMU had to inherit are the causes of deficiencies in SMU’s research and information development. The paper develops an approach for SMU to enable existing resources of information technology and communication (ICT) and statistical sciences to improve research on SMU campus. The approach developed is robust. It also has a built-in monitoring evaluation and control element. Benchmarks are used in the method development