Examining Knowledge Transfer Channels for Development of Environment Sector in Sindh

It is well understood that the creation and applications of new knowledge is the primary factor that drives economic growth. Aim ofthis research is to examine the KTCs (Knowledge Transfer Channels) in the universities of Sindh, Pakistan leading towards the scientific and technological development of environment sector. This research identified 29 KTCs from literature those were examined, making exploratory interviews with PhD faculty members of universities offering degrees in field of environment. The identified 29 KTCs are grouped together into 7 groups based on their characteristics. KTC-1: Publications (2-variables); KTC-2: Networking (4-variables); KTC-3: Mobility of Researchers (6-variables); KTC-4: Joint Research (5-variables); KTC-5: Intellectual Property with (2-variables); KTC-6: Co-operations (6-variables); KTC-7: Institutional Infrastructure (3-variables). Findingsshows, relevancy of KTCs in terms of their role towards the utilization of knowledge capital towards development by means of professional publications from KTC-1, participation of industry staff in conferences and workshops from KTC-2, students working as trainees in the industry and outflow of graduates at M.Phil. level from KTC-3, consultancy of university staff members in the industry from KTC-4, research work in co-operation with research institutes and with consultants from KTC-6 and sharing of physical infrastructure from KTC-7 also shows their impact towards the utilization of knowledge capital for development of environment sector. None of variablefrom KTC-5 related to intellectual property rights shows their impact towards utilization of knowledge capital. This research contributes empirical results of KTCs in universities, with policy implications for future knowledge transfer, which can contribute in the development of society.


INTRODUCTION
part of innovation, universities as a knowledge producing and disseminating institutions play a larger role in the national development [1]. The focus of this research is to present the aspect of KTCs in the universities contributing towards utilization of knowledge capital for development of environment sector.
It is well understood that the creation and applications of new knowledge is the primary factor that drives economic growth. It is also commonly accepted that universities are an important source of new knowledge, particularly in the areas of science and technology. In this way, it is essential to work as clear picture as conceivable of the systems by which universities research contribute in the development [2]. The UNO highlights the significance of development in the presence of required knowledge. Instruction additionally turns out to be an urgent component for the development as it encourages the change of way of life that is expected to accomplish the manageable examples of utilization and other conduct required to guarantee the necessities of future eras will likewise be met [3].
The process of KT and its utilization can be defined as the means by which mastery, learning, abilities and capacities are exchanged from the information base (for example, universities, research centers or research organization) to those needing that learning; for instance, ventures, social undertakings or not-for-profit organization [4].
The KT relates to the dispersal and utilization of research comes from researchin academic environment, and by industrialistsin applications [5]. The KT depends upon communications amongst researchers and practitioners, as opposed to straight arrangements starting with the requirements of specialists or the necessities of end users. The supporters of these clarifications anticipate that the more managed and extraordinary the communication amongst researchers and practitioners, the more probable use of research knowledge will happen [6]. Not at all like earlier clarifications, has this point of view recommended more noteworthy consideration regarding the connections amongst scientists and practitioners at various phases of research transfer and its utilization. The informal contacts are identified as most intriguing arrangements of components connecting researchers and practitioners, cooperation in funding bodies, and the transmission of research project reports to end user organizations [7]. This research identifies KTC for transfer of knowledge capital from universities to the end users of such knowledge capital which can contribute in the societal development. Identified KTC are further analyzed by means their role in the transfer of knowledge capital in the universities in Sindh offering degrees in the environment contributing in the development of environment sector. In the end, the KTC are examined by means of their impact on the utilization of knowledge capital. Structure of this research is comprised of different sections of discussions, starting with introduction; detailed review of literature is presented to identify the KTC. Research presents discussion related to methodology, results and discussions, in the end conclusions and recommendations are presented. Below section presents the review of literature.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature related to knowledge flow from university to end user presents various channels of KT as; knowledge exchange, collaborative research, action research, participatory research, community-based participatory research, coproduction of knowledge, or mode 2 research, involves active collaboration and exchange between researchers and knowledge users throughout the research process from identifying and shaping the research questions to collecting data and interpreting findings and disseminating and applying the results [8]. The quality of university-industry interfaces might be a key factor in promoting innovation, the complex and varied nature of such interfaces need to be understood and explored [9]. A co-ordinated approach is possibly additional tedious, requesting, and asset escalated than different methodologies since it requires the two analysts and information clients to grow new aptitudes, learning, and points of view. In any case, effectively including knowledge users as accomplices in the exploration procedure is a solid indicator that the examination discoveries will be utilized and that the exploration attempt by and large will accomplish a more noteworthy effect [10]. learning [11]. The knowledge dissemination and exchange components of the knowledge translation process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically sound application of knowledge [12]. In this regard, the work of universities is depicted as a powerful approach to exchange information to end user organizations [13]. It is found that the best commitment of the scholarly world to development appears as aberrant and impalpable streams of thoughts, information and master help [14].
The principle approach to build the commitment of scholarly world to development is to expand the quantity of (casual) correspondence channels amongst the scholarly community and industry, collective and contracted research exercises seem, by all accounts, to be a great deal more essential type of KT [15]. Counting it, informal contacts are frequently observed to be a typical type of collaboration amongst university and industry [16]. Despite the fact, there are different sorts of joint efforts, altogether described by a skill of working environment [17].
The different types of industry-academia co-operations can bring about an assortment of yields including new instrumentation, approaches, models, licenses, spinoffs. Because of the assortment of exercises and yields, no single measure is completely ready to catch the entire scope of industry-academia coordinated efforts [18].
Systems, including groups of training, information systems, and delicate systems, are conceivably powerful components for information scattering and application on the grounds that their primary design is to associate individuals who may not generally have a chance to communicate, empower discourse, fortify learning, and catch and diffuse information. A training is a gathering of individuals who share a typical concern, an arrangement of issues, or enthusiasm for a subject and  [19]. The KT and its use can be characterized as the methods by which mastery,

MATERIALS AND METHOD
The above discussed literature identified 29 KTCs by which academic knowledge is transferred to the end users. The obtained data has been analyzed using statistical packages for social sciences SPSS Version 20. Different techniques have been used to analyze the data to obtained results such as; chi-square test to determine whether there is a significant association between the two variables [25], and cross tabulation which is used as tool that allows comparingthe relationship between two variables [26].

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Results are based on empirical data obtained from the interviews with selected cases of PhD faculty members of universities offering degrees in environment sector.   Fig. 8 and sharing of lab facilities as shown in Fig. 9 also enhances the utilization of knowledge capital for development.

CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of KT has been observed as less focused

RECCOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations arrived from the findings of results are presented below: