Abstract:

This paper focuses on the influence of teaching and learning activities on Knowledge-Based Economies in line with teaching and learning activities in universities. Knowledge is by its very nature a public good and knowledge economies by their very nature are global activities. Since the concept of knowledge economy arose with rapid integration and proliferation of Information Technologies, the concept can be basically translated into Research, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Information Communication Technology infrastructure.

The study is a survey based on some universities, namely: Makerere University, Kyambogo University, Uganda Christian University, Uganda Martyrs University, Bugema University, Nkumba University, and Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

While the study triangulates the modern World Bank approach with the Philosophical and Anthropological approaches, the aim of the research is to show how effectively the different intellectual aspects can be perfected both from a Philosophical and Pragmatic approach in order to steer and improve African Knowledge Based Economies, particularly Uganda’s Economy.

(Definition of terms)

Information Technology [IT]: Information Technology [IT] can be perceived as the hardware [physical components of a computer divided into input, output, and storage and processing], software [non-tangible components which is categorised into Systems Software and Application Software], firmware [combination of both the hardware and software], people [users of the IT system within a particular setting] and procedures [rules, methods and documentation of a computer system] needed to convert data into information.

Knowledge Based Economies: These are economies which use knowledge to produce benefits.

The Knowledge Index: an average of the rankings of the performance of a country or region in three areas of the so-called Knowledge Economy, namely, education, innovation and information and communications technology.
Universities: the etymology of the word is universus, meaning whole. Universities act as the zenith of learning. They are charged with the responsibility of knowledge generation, transmission and community service.

Keywords:

information technology (it), knowledge based economies (kbe), knowledge index (ki), universities.