On Thursday 12th July 2018, Dr. Meleckidzedeck Khayesi addressed the staff o Makerere University School of Public Health (MaKSPH)laying emphasis on the need to harvest and invest evidence in the knowledge economy.
“Knowledge drives the economy, not oil or minerals”, he stressed. Citing examples of Silicon Valley in the US, and the development of economies of Switzerland and South Korea as more knowledge-based than process-based, he insistently reminded the audience of the enormous amounts of high quality knowledge produced by Ugandan universities which is then “dumped” after extremely rigorous research. He further suggested a course unit on the “Politics and Economies of the Knowledge Economy” to be taught at university across all disciplines to especially harness the industry that knowledge can become, all the while prompting the audience on how business-minded individuals can easily exploit research findings for substantial monetary gain.
While elaborating on the key features of the Knowledge economy, he highlighted the infinite nature, the collegial ownership, and the prolific nature (massive production) of knowledge. He urged the general academia to attach importance to 2 critical areas if knowledge is to be of substantial economic significance: the need to start recognizing the importance of harvesting this knowledge as a deliberate action, and to start training in techniques and how to avail tools to harvest knowledge. He also credited Prof. Christopher Garimoi Orach for his efforts to have knowledge especially about journals in his field of interest, at his fingertips.
He concluded with a call: to develop patents for innovations, services and books; for the passion and love for knowledge production, harvesting and investment; for think tanks.
About Dr Khayesi
Dr. Meleckidzedeck Khayesi is a principal researcher and international civil servant working with the World Health Organization, Geneva, in the Department for Management of Non-communicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention (NVI).Before joining the World Health Organization in 2002, Dr Khayesi was a lecturer at Kenyatta University for 11years. His extensive research and policy work has recently led him to pay attention to the importance of knowledge production and its harvesting for use in society. Dr. Khayesi holds a Bachelor of Education degree with Geography and Religion as teaching subjects, a Master of Arts degree in Geography and a PhD in Transport Geography.
