Specialization in higher education management: Challenges and opportunities for strengthening scientific research in Angola

Abstract

This article describes the experiences of managing scientific research processes, embodied in the specialization course in higher education management held in Angola, funded by the European Union in the 2022-2023 biennium and supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation. During two editions of the course, aspects were identified that provided an understanding and explanation of the weaknesses, challenges and opportunities for improving the quality of higher education management, not only as a way to contribute to its strengthening, but also to highlight the relevance of the link between the dimensions of teaching, scientific research, university extension and their impact on increasing the scientific productivity of Angolan Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This action allowed sharing epistemological, methodological, and technological approaches that enable monitoring the implementation of good practices in scientific research. The methodological approach used was mixed, given the need to compile, analyze and integrate quantitative and qualitative data. The study population consisted of 159 managers from public, public-private and private HEIs. The results show that there is a lack of funding, adequate infrastructure to carry out scientific research and development activities, differentiated human resources, as well as the need to create a public institution with the skills to process ISBN, ISSN and DOI in the country. It is concluded that the potentialities of the obtained results will have an impact on guiding public policies aimed at scientific and technological development. This insight comes from considering that, even after 62 years of institutionalization of higher education in Angola, internal scientific productivity has not yet reached significant levels in the global indexes of science, technology, and innovation.