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Byline: Allam Ahmed Sudanese academic and research institutions have long suffered from varying degrees of mismanagement, poor management and inappropriate management. This paper will attempt to explore a number of issues about Human Resource Management (HRM) within the Sudanese academic and research institutions, namely the University of Gezira (GU) and the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC). Before that happens, it is necessary to engage in a little background study, as an understanding of HRM in these institutions can be possible only in the context of understanding HRM and Sudan. Therefore the early parts of this paper will deal with the context and activities of HRM that are applicable to both Sudan and Africa. In particular there will be a focus on the practice and challenges of HRM within ARC and GU as well as a reconceptualisation of our understanding of HRM in Sudan.

Byline: Allam Ahmed The scarcity of literature in educational institutions is a serious problem in different parts of the world, particularly in developing countries where there is a real need for better access to information. It is vitally important that the technological gap between developing and developed countries is narrowed, and scientific journals have a key role to play in ensuring that this takes place. This paper aims to assess and evaluate Digital Publishing (Open Access Publishing and Open Source Models) as a proposed solution to avoid restrictions on accessing scientific knowledge, particularly in the developing countries. More importantly, the paper outlines opportunities and challenges of open-access publishing for the developing countries. However, oftentimes there are mismatches between what the 'donor' countries can reasonably offer and what the developing countries can implement.

Byline: Allam Ahmed, Ronald W. McQuaid Successful management in the new millennium requires developing new methods and approaches to suit the challenges and opportunities of this new era of globalisation. An entrepreneurial approach is seen by many scholars and policy makers as a major option to enhance organisational performance in this era. The concept of entrepreneurship is multi-dimensional and often unclear. Various perspectives have different implications for how entrepreneurship is related to and can help promote sustainable development (SD). This introductory paper to WREMSD will attempt to explore viewpoints from around the world on entrepreneurship, management, and SD. The key objectives are to explain different perspectives on what is meant by the term entrepreneurship in a global context and to provide an overview of SD in relation to entrepreneurship. The paper argues that it is essential that research and policy development fully takes account of the differing perspectives of entrepreneurship and make explicit the particular perspective(s) that they are taking. No single definition necessarily fully captures the concept, but by being clear about our meaning of the concept and the underlying assumptions, we can progress our understanding of entrepreneurship and its relationships to SD.

Byline: Allam Ahmed, David John Newton Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are under increasing governmental pressure to make direct, visible, and relevant contributions to national research and development (ISNAR, 1995). The aim of this paper is to develop a framework for the analysis of the role of African universities in development-oriented research. Sudan provides the focus for this study primarily because of the strong differences in the size of its National Agricultural Research Institutions (NARIs), its cultural and historical backgrounds, and the organisation and management of its university research. This paper examines those factors influencing the contribution to the stock of intellectual knowledge and increased added value in Sudanese agriculture of agricultural research and technology development within the University of Gezira (GU). Conclusions are set within the context of the general constraints facing the agricultural sector in Sudan. The paper demonstrates that successful agricultural technology management for the future in Sudan is related closely to effective diffusion of knowledge from GU, and this in turn presents real challenges emanating from the continuing development of practical but complex linkages between the University and a range of partner institutions. A number of findings emerge, which outline the key issues relating to the effective management of the necessary technological transformation in Sudan, providing a blueprint for policy makers in taking appropriate and immediate measures to improve the agricultural technology development in Sudan.

Byline: Allam Ahmed The aim of this article is to develop a framework for identifying technology transfer opportunities in the Sudan to strengthen research and academic institutions' role in closing the productivity gap and achieving sustainable development. The paper critically examines the different problems and challenges facing technology transfer in the Sudan with particular focus on agricultural research and technology. This paper also evaluates the implementation capacity constraints, which exist in formal agricultural research, and the impact this has on the development of the agricultural sector of the Sudanese economy. Finally, a number of findings emerge, which outline the key issues relating to effectively managing the technological transformation in the Sudan as well as helping policy makers to take appropriate and immediate measures to achieve sustainable development in the Sudan.

Byline: Allam Ahmed Although Sudan is a predominately agricultural economy, crop productivity is extremely low and does not exceed 30% of the level attained in research farms. The aim of this paper is to address the strategic and policy challenges facing technological transformation and productivity increase in Sudan. This paper examines the various factors which influence the agricultural technology adoption decisions as well as the constraints facing the agricultural sector in Sudan. The paper also demonstrates that complexity and linkages of the various technology adoption factors represent real challenges in future technology management in Sudan. Finally, a number of findings emerge which outlines the key issues relating to effectively manage the technological transformation in Sudan as well as helping policy makers to take appropriate and immediate measures to improve the agricultural productivity in Sudan.

Byline: Allam Ahmed, Josephine Anne Stein This paper explores global viewpoints on the state of science, technology and sustainable development (SD). The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of SD and why it is important, and to provoke forward thinking on the development of a more coherent approach to solving global problems related to sustainability. In doing so, a holistic approach is used to critically examine the inter-relationship between the natural, the governmental, the economic and the social dimensions of our world, and how science and technology can contribute to solutions. A framework for understanding and acting upon these solutions is presented, taking into account a variety of international, institutional and intellectual perspectives. The aim is to address growing concerns for the future of our interlocked ecological, political and economic systems in a highly populated world that is characterised by major social and economic disparities.

Byline: Allam Ahmed This paper is an introduction to the general theme of the special issue and therefore, outlines all these serious challenges facing technological transformation and sustainable development with evidences and examples from different African countries. In addition, the paper explains some of the key programmes which have been developed in Africa and concludes by suggesting policies which may enhance technological transformation and sustainable development.