Academics urged to do more

The Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services’ (SRC) retiring director is urging academics to do more than write scholarly papers.

Neil Paul, who demitted office last week after 15 years with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, said it was incumbent on the UWI and its academics to do more for the development of the Caribbean.

“While it is commendable to produce scholarly work, published in academic journals, I think this falls short of real impact.
Scholarly articles and peer reviewed journal articles are mostly cited by other scholars and academics and hardly seem to contribute to development of our civilisation,” he said in the SRC’s monthly online journal.

The agricultural communications specialist said two issues needed to be contemplated.

“Firstly, one of the metrics used for promotion of academics is publication in peer reviewed journals and is therefore, important in the career of the academic.

“Secondly, these articles remain the purview of other academics and hardly feature in areas of national development, as they should, unless specifically commissioned for that purpose.” Paul, a St Lucian national, also called for more mentoring of young academics and students in the research processes.

He added: “Many academics, depending on the field of expertise, are in a sense forced to research areas which are not relevant to the development of our civilization, primarily because the journals and other publications set that agenda.

“Where Caribbean journals exist, they are treated in the University as inferior (second and even third tier) to the more established publications so that our academics instead use other preferred outlets. We must develop the cultural confidence to ensure that we treat our own indigenous publications with respect.” (IMC1)