DAR ES SALAAM: ACADEMICS in higher learning institutions have been urged to reorient research efforts toward practical, solution-driven outcomes that address societal challenges and improve community livelihoods, amid growing concern that much academic research remains underutilised after graduation.
The call for academics to prioritise solution-oriented research was made during a two-day professional consultancy training that commenced yesterday at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) auditorium in Dar es Salaam.
The training brought together academics and administrators from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, alongside participants from other faculties.
Representing the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the official opening, Dr Mariana Makuu, Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, emphasised that universities must transition from purely theoretical research toward applied scholarship that directly tackles the nation’s social, economic and cultural challenges, ensuring academic work delivers tangible societal impact.
She highlighted that the training seeks to reorient academic practice from theoretical inquiry toward research that produces practical, measurable outcomes, while simultaneously building participants’ professional consultancy skills and amplifying the university’s capacity to generate meaningful societal impact.
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Dr Makuu further urged participants to engage actively throughout the training, emphasising that developing consultancy expertise and applied research skills is essential for translating academic knowledge into solutions for real-world challenges.
She stressed that equipping scholars with these capabilities not only enhances individual professional growth but also positions the university as a key driver of social and economic development.
By fostering a culture of actionable research, the institution can bridge the gap between academic inquiry and policy implementation, ensuring research outputs generate measurable societal benefits.
However, he observed that consultancy and research activities in many higher learning institutions remain weakly integrated into institutional strategic plans, limiting effective monitoring, accountability, and evaluation.
Contributing to the discussion, Dr Janeth Laurean from the Department of Economics and Community Economic Development proposed the introduction of incentive mechanisms to recognise academics whose research and consultancy projects generate income for universities, arguing that this would encourage broader participation.
The discussions also highlighted persistent challenges within the education and research ecosystem, including limited translation of research into actionable solutions.
Participants observed that many students and scholars remain focused on graduation outcomes, rather than viewing research and education as tools for longterm social and economic transformation.