South Africa's Knowledge-development Policy Nexus: Implications for Place-based Development in the Eastern Cape Province

South Africa's Knowledge-development Policy Nexus: Implications for Place-based Development in the Eastern Cape Province

Author: 
Fongwa, Samuel N.
Place: 
Oxon
Publisher: 
Taylor & Francis Group
Date published: 
2018
Record type: 
Journal Title: 
Develpment Southern Africa
Source: 
Development Southern Africa Vol 35 No 5 September 2018 pp 626-640
Abstract: 

The contribution of universities, knowledge and innovation to development has moved to the foreground of national and regional policy and practice. More successful nations and regions show a close alignment between knowledge policy and socio-economic development. However, in peripheral regions, this link is less well articulated for place-based development. This paper interrogates this relationship within the South African and Eastern Cape regional context. Using core tenets from the learning region concept, I show how the role of knowledge has gained significant traction in the national knowledge and development policy landscape. Using evidence from the broader Amathole region in the Eastern Cape, I highlight some of the challenges within the knowledge-development policy nexus. In the main, weak knowledge and social capabilities undermine place-based innovation, interactive learning and ultimately development. The paper concludes that although the University of Fort Hare can serve as a development agent in the region, a continuously reflexive and engaged policy making process of learning, networking and institutional embeddedness is critical.

Language: 
Country focus: 

CITATION: Fongwa, Samuel N.. South Africa's Knowledge-development Policy Nexus: Implications for Place-based Development in the Eastern Cape Province . Oxon : Taylor & Francis Group , 2018. Development Southern Africa Vol 35 No 5 September 2018 pp 626-640 - Available at: https://library.au.int/south-africas-knowledge-development-policy-nexus-implications-place-based-development-eastern-cape