Factors Influencing Research Productivity Among Vocational and Technical Education Academics in Nigerian Universities

This study examines the factors influencing research productivity among academics in vocational and technical education departments in Nigerian universities. Research productivity, measured by publication output, citation impact, and grant acquisition, is a key indicator of academic contribution and institutional quality. Despite the strategic importance of VTE research for national development, documentation of the factors shaping productivity among VTE academics remains sparse. A cross-sectional survey design is employed, drawing 200 academic staff from 15 universities with established VTE departments across the six geopolitical zones, including institutions in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Maiduguri, and Ilorin. A validated research productivity scale and a researcher enablers questionnaire measure output and influencing factors. Hierarchical regression analysis identifies significant predictors. Findings are expected to reveal that research funding access, institutional support systems, collaborative networks, and workload distribution are the strongest determinants of research productivity, with gender and academic rank as moderators. The study also examines how internet access and library quality predict publication output. Recommendations include targeted research grants for VTE academics, institutionalised research mentoring programmes, VTE academic professional networks, and reduced teaching loads for active researchers. This study makes an original empirical contribution to higher education research productivity literature in Nigeria and provides a foundation for interventions to strengthen VTE research culture in Nigerian universities. Keywords: research productivity, VTE academics, Nigerian universities, academic research, factors