Mapping higher education policymaking in Ghana with a quadruple helix framework

Abstract

Whilst research works have identified many actors involved in higher education public policymaking in the Ghanaian context, there is a paucity of empirical studies on how the application of a quadruple helix network of policy actors considered essential constituents of higher education provision could create added value to strengthen the policymaking ecosystem in Ghana. Using multiple data collection techniques including, document analysis, in-depth interviews and analytic memoing, this paper examines deeper insights into higher education public policymaking in Ghana from the perspective of a quadruple helix framework of policymaking and argues for an added value in the use of quadruple helix framework in higher education policymaking. The emerging issues show that higher education public policymaking in Ghana does not involve the key quadruple helix of actors in the higher education provision equitably to create a sufficient coalition for policy implementation. Additionally, the emerging issues indicate that the minimal use of research evidence appears to be a major hindrance to a progressive and transformative higher education policymaking in Ghana. Against the backdrop of the emerging issues, we conclude that ineffective use of quadruple helix network of actors in higher education provision contributes to higher education policy implementation challenges in Ghana.