Sharing knowledge; universities

Dear Moderator and Members,

I am M.I.Zuberi a university teacher, teaching and researching biodiversity and environment. Also, I work with local NGOs and village communities on knowledge sharing on water, sanitation, arsenic problem, organic farming, biodiversity conservation and environment management for sustainable production system. The list is long - actually we take a 'holistic' view - so it will include more !!

I have participated in the past e-conferences, I have also registered here but find little interest to join - because it seemed to me repetition of what we have already discussed, I want to 'do something along our previous discussion'.

Now, taking the point our Moderator has made in summerizing the postings so far, ie the absence of discussion of KM on the University levels, I wanted to respond.

In the universities, in many LDCs, the knowledge flow from the teachers to the students aims primarily towards passing the examination and getting a degree - as was in the colonial period. The application of knowledge for problem solving or development is not focussed by the teachers and students. It is book oriented - not people/problem oriented.

As a result, when the graduates go out, they also acquire more knowledge during their job/service/profession/duties but limit the activities as their job/profession/duties strictly require; they are not seen disseminating the knowledge to others who may need this, not involved in knowledge management.

Thus, we have to change the 'teaching approach' in our educational institutions by the 'learning approach' where the teachers and students will be engaged in 'learning' - acquiring knowledge for using/applying it, so must be in contact with the people who will use it and the 'field' where it will be used.

Do others agree with my view ? What can we do to change ? How IRC can get more involved in KM and it utilization ?

M.I.Zuberi, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh