The purpose of this research work was to find out the perceptions of University academic staff on the mandate for higher education research so as to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) and then bring out the implication for counselling. It adopted the survey research design. A sample of 300 subjects, comprising 180 academic staff from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and 120 academic
... [Show full abstract] staff from Anambra State University Uli. A self-constructed Academic Staff Perception on Higher Education Research Scale (ASPHES) instrument was used for data collection. The instrument was validated and a reliability coefficient of 0.75 was obtained using Cronbach Alpha. Mean statistics was used to answer the two research questions raised in the study. The criterion for mean acceptance was 2.50 based on a four point rating scale. Results showed among others that, higher education research could lead to the formulation of policies on MDGS in education, out of school children and dropouts could be identified and helped, the causes of slow progress, repetition, non-completion of primary curriculum could also be identified and solution proffered. Again, the findings showed that, problems like financial constraints, illiterate and uncooperative populace, lack of data base, non-dissemination of research findings are some of the problems facing research in higher education. The counselling implication was that, the research aspect of counselling should be strictly embraced by counselors so as to discover areas of individual need and then use appropriate counselling techniques to resolve such identified problems especially that of the youths. Among the recommendations was that, for the MDGS to be achieved, educational research findings should be taken to policy makers and stakeholders to put such findings and recommendations into practice.