Education

Ph.D. Sociology, University of Saskatchewan, 2007.

M.A. Sociology, University of Saskatchewan, 2003.

B.A. (First Class Honours) Sociology with Political Science, University of Ghana, 1999.

Research Interest

• Triple Helix of University-Industry-Government Linkages
• Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
• Knowledge, Production and Capitalization
• Globalization and Development
• Sociological Theory
• Sociological Conceptions of Risk
• Sociology of Education,
• Social and Public Policy

a. Digitalization of basic services in Ghana: this research looks into digitalisation in Ghana. It notes that though Ghana has a high mobile phone subscription rate that exceeds the total population of the country, internet penetration lags as significant areas of the country suffer from erratic service and service unavailability. This has adverse implications for digital inclusion especially as internet availability and access are the engines of digitalisation.

b. Bidirectional North-South Student Mobility Programs: International Service learning (ISL) activities are aimed at ameliorating a community problem or issue, but scholars have expressed concern that the unequal North-South dynamic inherent in these programs serves to reinforce, rather than ameliorate, neo-colonial relationships such as saviour mentality and donor complex. This project investigates host community perceptions of the impacts of a reciprocal and bidirectional North-South student mobility program in the Global South.

c. Entrepreneurship and innovation through intermediate ties: Building on Mark Granovetter’s counter-intuitive social ties model, this project explores the idea that the perspicacity of intermediate ties constitute often invisible category of collegial and friendship ties that may induced or repressed in varying organizational formats. Such ties are key building blocks, supplying missing dimensions of talent and mediation in entrepreneurial start-ups, often making the difference between success and failure.

Publications

    Edited Books

Kpessa-Whyte, M. and Dzisah, J. (eds.) (2024). Public Policy in Ghana: Conceptual and Practical Insights.Cham: Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan.

Dzisah, J., & Etzkowitz, H., (Eds.,) (2012). The Age of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Universities, Knowledge and Society. Leiden and Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.

Book Chapters

Kpessa-Whyte, M., and Dzisah, J. (2024). The Context and Content of Public Policy in Africa. In Kpessa-Whyte, M. and Dzisah, J. (eds). Public Policy in Ghana: Conceptul and Practical Insights, pp.13-30. Cham: Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan.

Dzisah, J., and Kpessa-Whyte, M. (2024). Research and Knowledge in Public Policy Making. In Kpessa-Whyte, M. and Dzisah, J. (eds). Public Policy in Ghana: Conceptul and Practical Insights, pp.147-160. Cham: Switzerland: Palgrave McMillan.

Dzisah, J. (2024). Sociology of Development, Globalisation and Inequality. In K. Puplampu, & A. K. Darkwah (Eds.), Social Change in a Global Era: Introduction to Sociology in Ghana, pp. 198-226. Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers.

Akagbor, M., Dzisah, J., and Sedegah, D. (2022). “Majoritarian Democracy and LGBT Conundrum in Ghana”, In Maame Efua Addadzi-Koom, Michael Addaney and Lydia A. Nkansah, (eds.), Democracy, Law and Development under Ghana’s Fourth Republic: Realities, Challenges and Prospects, pp. 225-279. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Dzisah, J. (2012). “Ideals and Contradictions in Knowledge Capitalization.” In Dzisah, J. and Etzkowitz. H. (eds.), The Age of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Universities, Knowledge and Society, pp. 267-288. Leiden and Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.

Dzisah, J., & Etzkowitz, H. (2012). “The Triple Helix of Knowledge”. In Dzisah, J. and Etzkowitz. H. (eds.), The Age of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Universities., Knowledge and Society, pp.127-144. Leiden and Boston: Brill Academic Publishers.

Dzisah, J. (2011). “Mobilizing for Development: Putting the Triple Helix into Action in Ghana”. In Saad, M. and Zawdie, G. (eds.), Theory and Practice of Triple Helix Model in Developing Countries: Issues and Challenges, pp. 146-160. London: Routledge.

Dzisah, J., & Etzkowitz, H. (2008). The Renewal of the African University: Towards a ‘Triple Helix development Model. In H. Etzkowitz & M. Roest (Eds.), Transforming University-Industry-Government Relations in Ethiopia, pp.180-192. Malmö: IKED.

Articles

Dzisah, J., and Kpessa-Whyte, M (2023) Pan-African Epistemologies of Knowledge Production: A Deconstruction-Based Critical Reflection. Contemporary Journal of African Studies 10(1), 1-26.

Etzkowitz, H., Dzisah, J., Albats, E., Cai, Y., and Outamha, R. (2023). Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Triple Helix: The Perspicacity of Intermediate Ties. Industry and Higher Education. DOI:0 10.1177/09504222221151122

Etzkowitz, H., Dzisah, J., and Clouser, M. (2022). Shaping the Entrepreneurial University: Two Experiments and a Proposal for Innovation in Higher Education. Industry and Higher Education 36(1), 3-12.

Dzisah, J. (2018). Re-tooling the Triple Helix: Georg Simmel’s Tertius Gaudens as an Anchor? Ghana Social Science Journal 15(1),167-183.

Dzisah, J. (2016). Academic Capitalism: Globalization, Universities and the Paradox of the Neoliberal Marketplace. Ghana Social Science Journal 13(1), 1-33.

Etzkowitz, H. & Dzisah, J. (2013). Bottom-up Triple Helix: Science Policy in the States of the USA. Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China 5(2),80–96.

Etzkowitz, H., Ranga, M., & Dzisah, J. (2012). Wither the University? The Novum Trivium and the Transition from Industrial to Knowledge Society. Social Science Information 51(2),143–164.

Dzisah, J. (2010). Capitalizing Knowledge: The Mind-set of Academic Scientists. Critical Sociology 36(4), 555-573.

Etzkowitz, H., & Dzisah, J. (2010). Who Influences Whom? The Transformation of University-Industry Government Relations. Critical Sociology 36(4), 491-501.

Dzisah, J. & Etzkowitz, H. (2008). Triple Helix Circulation: The Heart of Innovation and Development. International Journal of Technology Management & Sustainable Development 7(2), 101-115.

Etzkowitz, H. & Dzisah, J. (2008). Rethinking development: circulation in the triple helix. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management 20(6), 653-666.

Etzkowitz, H. & Dzisah, J. (2008). Unity and Diversity in High-Tech Growth and Renewal: Learning From Boston and Silicon Valley. European Planning Studies 16(8),1009-1024.

Etzkowitz, H. & Dzisah, J. (2007). Professors of Practice and the Entrepreneurial University. International Higher Education 49 (Fall Issue): 10-11.

Etzkowitz, H., Dzisah, J., Ranga, M., & Zhou, C., (2007). The Triple Helix Model for Innovation: The University-industry-government interaction. Asia Pacific Tech Monitor 24 (1),14-23.

Dzisah, J. & Etzkowitz, H. (2007). Professors of Practice: Reinventing the Professorial role. Engevista sobre Tecnologia & Inovação 9(2):166-173.

Etzkowitz, H., & Dzisah, J. (2007). The Triple Helix of Innovation: Towards a University-Led Development Strategy for Africa. Africa Technology Development Forum (ATDF) Journal 4(2),3-10.

Dzisah, J. (2007). Institutional Transformations in the Regime of Knowledge Production: The University as a catalyst for the science-based knowledge economy. Asian Journal of Social Science 35 (1),126-140.

Dzisah, J. (2006). Information Communication Technologies and Development in Ghana. Science, Technology and Society 11 (2),379-396.

Encyclopedia Entry

Etzkowitz, H. & Dzisah, J. (2008). University-Industry Relationships. In J. Baird-Callicott & R. Frodeman (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy (pp.334-336). Michigan: Macmillan Reference USA.

Book Review

Dzisah, J. (2012). The Responsible Corporation in a Global Economy (Colin Crouch and Camilla Maclean, (eds). Critical Perspectives on International Business 8(3), 259 – 262.

Dzisah, J. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility & International Development: Is Business the Solution? Michael Hopkins). Critical Perspectives on International Business 4(4), 422-