Intellectual property management mechanisms and commercialisation of graduate students’ research outputs in College of Education and External Studies, Makerere University

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the effects of IPM mechanisms on the commercialisation of graduate students’ research outputs at the College of Education and External Studies (CEES). It was prompted by the low commercialisation of graduate students’ research outputs. This study was guided by three specific objectives namely, to examine the effect of IP (1) Generation, (2) Protection (3) Enforcement on the commercialisation of graduate students’ research outputs. It was a cross-sectional survey design and majorly quantitative. The population size was 243 graduate students of CEES and the sample size was 151 respondents selected using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a survey method and its corresponding tool was a self-administered questionnaire. At the univariate level each dimension of the independent and dependent variables were analysed descriptively whereas at a bivariate level inferential statistics were determined using the Chi-square test of independence. Results revealed that IP generation, protection, and enforcement have no effect on commercialisation of graduate students’ outputs. From the findings, it was recommended that to increase commercialisation of graduate students’ research outputs, CEES should make the Makerere University intellectual property management policy available to all graduate students; ensure that intellectual property education and training is made mandatory in all graduate programs; it was also recommended that there should be quarterly and annual releases about what intellectual property has been protected in the university in order to minimise on IP infringement, and finally legal education on IP enforcement should be provided to graduate students in create awareness and minimise infringement of graduate students’ IP rights.