Feed

Summary: In a fast world where innovation and impact are critical slogans, researchers are required to build their partnerships and grow networks to advance research that transforms lives beyond academic papers. It is equally critical to know the intricacies of connecting with the right people and teams. This article unpacks some of the in ways around the complexities for researchers aiming to works across such environments. Farai Kapfudzaruwa is a Research and Strategic Partnerships Manager at Future Africa, University of Pretoria. People often say, “the world is becoming small”, when discussing meeting new friends and forming partnerships. This statement reflects the increased connectivity among people, facilitated by rapid transportation and advanced communication methods. However, does the idea of a shrinking world really make it a simple, smooth, and easy process to build sustainable and impactful networks? While the phrase "the world becomes small" suggests ease of navigation, it also brings to light increasingly intricate and complex environments. The kind of environments that are a compound of diverse cultures, trends, and knowledge systems, call for one to re-learn what they know. Neither research nor academia holds a special entry pass into this realm; they must navigate these intricate environments just like everyone else to advance research and societal knowledge. Only by doing so, we will manage to begin to tackle some of the most complex problems with strong bridges and networks.  As the principal investigator of the Africa-Asia Business Partnership Forum, co-funded by the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), we navigated a myriad of complexities to drive the project towards success. This project brought together South African, Japanese, and US partners, encompassing academics, young entrepreneurs, and their value chain stakeholders. Farai and his team faced the challenge of managing cultural differences, a task that proved to be intricate. For instance, during the project’s initial virtual workshops, Japanese entrepreneurs, known for their quiet and reserved nature, found it difficult to adapt to the interactive format, in contrast to the vocal and assertive South African entrepreneurs. This innocent disparity is something that is usually overlooked and often not considered to be a thing to account for when conceptualising projects, but it can cause and lead to serious imbalance in sharing ideas and creating a levelled environment where thoughts circulate with ease. In this instance, this disparity led to the Japanese feeling overwhelmed.  To address these issues, the team acknowledged the significance of cultural sensitivities and redesigned the workshops to be more inclusive of Japanese participants. They also encountered diverse work cultures and problem-solving methods among the researchers, adding another layer of complexity to the project’s execution.  The foundational principles of effective networking always revolve around two key tenets. The first principle emphasizes the importance of understanding context. This entails understanding and recognizing that every individual, partner, community, or organization operates within a unique socio-cultural, knowledge system, resource-based, and personality-driven context. The second principle highlights the value of being open-minded and receptive to learning. Therefore, when initiating engagements with new partners, it is crucial to approach with an open mind and actively seek to comprehend their specific context.  Mutual respect amongst partners always ensures that diverse views and cultures are accounted for in a partnership. This entails understanding that each partner brings unique value to a project. Once everyone’s value is accounted for and appreciated it allows for equitable distribution of resources and tasks in the team. Often, Global South partners are portrayed as recipients of capacity-building support which then undermines their role in projects. This perception can arise from a lack of appreciation for their indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), which may be dismissed as insufficiently rigorous by Global North partners.  By taking the time to understand and respect the value of IKS, Global North partners can find value in the contributions of Global South partners. Furthermore, it’s one thing to understand, respect, and value a different cultural context or way of doing things in a partnership and another to take a key interest and learn a different context. Language is a good example, it's one thing to appreciate a different language and another thing to take an interest and attempt to learn that language to enable you to communicate more effectively with local partners.    Avoid the Misconceptions and Mix Things Up  One of the most prevalent and biggest misconceptions about networking is the belief that relationships should naturally form among researchers or partners who share similar backgrounds and priorities and who are from the same discipline and/or have aligned interests. However, within the context of transdisciplinarity, such relationships often lack innovation and diversity and exhibit significant homogeneity, as they predominantly involve partners with similar interests. In one of the projects that I lead at Future Africa, this is the core of what we do. Supported by the International Science Council, the project explores the idea of a Science Technology and Innovation (STI), Leadership Forum. STI isn't solely about the natural sciences. The project has gained traction by engaging a diverse array of experts and leaders across disciplines, including the social sciences. These professionals contribute their insights on integrating natural sciences with policy to enhance the African STI landscape. The impact of valuing and integrating varied disciplines and expertise has enriched our research methodologies and outcomes. Therefore, it is highly recommended to seek out networks that challenge you and offer diversity, as this creates opportunities for transformative impact. Engineers, for instance, are encouraged to actively cultivate and nurture relationships with sociologists or artists, as they can leverage each other's expertise for mutual benefit. Similarly, academics should strive to engage with sectors beyond academia, such as the private sector or government, to foster relevance and impact of research and teaching, thus catalyzing innovation across diverse fields.   Another common misconception revolves around the idea that networks are inherently self-serving. However, this is not the case. As an academic, you can actively participate in networks, such as community groups, where the focus is not on extracting value but on adding value and making a positive impact by transforming lives. I believe in the power of diverse networks to foster significant, transformative impacts, and I advocate for connections beyond traditional boundaries, such as those between engineers and sociologists or artists, to leverage unique expertise for mutual benefit. This strategy extends to academics engaging with sectors outside of academia, enhancing the relevance and impact of their work across different fields. For example, I am engaged in a network of Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) addressing child labor and sustainability in the wine industry which illustrates this point. My interaction with stakeholders like human rights lawyers and community leaders enriches my understanding of the problem, while my academic contributions to grant proposal writing and transformative partnerships underscore the value of reciprocal, impactful networking. This experience not only broadens my perspective but also significantly enhances the collective efforts towards sustainable and ethical practices in the industry. In essence, this example reflects a broader principle: networks should not be self-serving but rather avenues for adding value and effecting positive change. My involvement in both academic and non-academic networks highlights the dual benefits of recognition and the opportunity to mentor and support others, ultimately leading to a more interconnected and transformative impact across disciplines and sectors.  Attention to Newcomers in Academia  Firstly, start building networks at an early stage in your graduate studies at conferences, social gatherings, and many other places. Find mentors who can introduce you to their networks for you to benefit and learn. Secondly, always make an effort to engage with partners outside your comfort zone or your area of expertise or sector. You are more likely to be impactful from a research and teaching perspective if you always have a transdisciplinary lens to your work. This is critically important in an academic environment that increasingly values societal impact. If you work with local communities – show respect and value them.    Practical Techniques for Working Across Sectors and Cultural and knowledge Contexts  Given the diverse expertise and capacities in such partnerships, the key to ensuring impact and sustainability is to ensure everyone has input in setting the agenda and goals. As such, communicating and engaging on the project management plan early and transparently is essential. Secondly, clearly defining the roles of each partner based on their expertise and capabilities (resources and time) is key. This ensures there is accountability in the partnership. Thirdly, it’s important to develop reflexive practices which enable all the partners to contribute to the project through learning from others’ expertise, competencies and disciplines. For example, if you want to learn the value of government or civil society, the best way is through regular knowledge sharing sessions where partners share their expertise, competencies, and lessons learned. This can be an opportunity for individuals and partners to learn new skills and expertise. In scenarios like these, it's crucial to give everyone a voice. Adopting the "world café" concept, where workshop participants are divided into small groups, ensures that each partner can contribute their insights. In 2022, we organized a transdisciplinary capacity development workshop for early career researchers. The aim was to collaboratively design projects addressing global challenges. To break the ice, we introduced games that facilitated socialization and mutual acquaintance among participants. This strategy helped build rapport and relationships, enabling productive engagement throughout the week. Such interactive approaches can foster communication and collaboration in workshop settings.    Fourth, given the variety of backgrounds and competencies in these complex knowledge systems its always important to “speak the same language”. For example, simple tools such as documented communication guidelines, or glossary of terms can help data scientists and policy makers understand each other across disciplines. Fifth, use multidisciplinary approaches to ensure that everyone benefits. Generally, academics value “methods” whereas policymakers value results/practical outcomes. This means creating flexible design frameworks that can accommodate variable scope and unanticipated results. It is important to know that there is need for mutual benefit and there are several approaches to achieving a shared vison and outcome based on the nature of the stakeholder. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the preferred method of integrating multidisciplinary approaches to ensure that all partners benefit from the collaboration. Partners must therefore acknowledge the different priorities and perspectives of academic researchers and policymakers, highlighting the need for flexible design frameworks that can accommodate diverse goals and outcomes.  For example, a partnership focused on environmental conservation and policy development might involve academic researchers specializing in ecological studies, policymakers from government agencies, and environmental advocacy groups. Each partner brings unique strengths and priorities to the table. The academic researchers may prioritize rigorous scientific methodologies, data collection, and analysis techniques to understand ecosystem dynamics, species diversity, and environmental impacts while policymakers may prioritize actionable insights, policy recommendations, and practical solutions to address environmental challenges such as deforestation, pollution, and habitat loss. When designing the project, a flexible research framework that integrates both academic methodologies and policy-oriented outcomes is key. For example, academic researchers can conduct in-depth ecological studies using advanced data collection techniques, while also focusing on translating their findings into policy-relevant recommendations. In that way it's a win-win for both the academic and policy stakeholders.  Navigating ethical considerations across different cultural contexts poses a complex challenge. What may be deemed ethical in one region might not align with ethical standards elsewhere. Therefore, it is preferable to identify overarching principles that promote sustainable partnerships, such as steering clear of linguistic dominance and embracing epistemological flexibilities. Numerous global frameworks exist that outline these principles. However, the true challenge lies in integrating them into funding models, project frameworks, and institutional structures effectively. This requires a thoughtful approach that respects diverse perspectives and ensures ethical practices are embedded at every level of operation.  Using DEI to Frame Your in Partnerships and Networks  As the global landscape continues “to become smaller”, our interactions increasingly involve individuals from diverse backgrounds. It is imperative that we equip ourselves with the necessary skills to navigate the different cultural sensitivities. This includes understanding what makes people comfortable and acknowledging areas that may cause discomfort. It's crucial not only to consider our interactions with individuals but also to evaluate our treatment of marginalized groups such as women, youth, disabled individuals, LGBTQ+ communities, among others. How we treat these groups can significantly be seen as your institutional culture. Hence, it is vital to prioritize fairness, inclusivity, and a deep understanding at all levels of interaction. Attention to diversity and inclusion ensure there are different partners from different backgrounds with varying experiences and expertise. As a result, diverse networks offer broader perspectives as different people provide insights that others would never have considered or thought. Joining diverse and inclusive networks also brings new opportunities to partners – for example, new funding sources. A lot has also been written on the value of diversity and inclusion in promoting creativity and innovation.   Emerging Trends that Alter the World of Partnerships and Networking  The funding for higher education partnerships globally is diminishing. Therefore, networks that will be able to ensure impact and transformative impact with fewer resources will become more successful. This particularly, relates the movement to embrace artificial intelligence and machine learning in research and learning. AI is equipping students and communities with information processed faster (which has implications on how collaborative research is done), but also bridging access to quality knowledge. The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred the adoption of a new global work culture, characterized by widespread remote work practices. This shift has accelerated the use of virtual communication platforms, facilitating seamless connections and collaboration among individuals worldwide. This virtual communication culture presents a unique opportunity for the academia to build robust research and innovation networks. Virtual communication tools have broken down geographical barriers, allowing researchers, academics, and innovators from diverse backgrounds to connect effortlessly. This global connectivity fosters the exchange of ideas, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on a scale previously unattainable.  enable real-time collaboration on research projects, facilitating joint efforts and interdisciplinary approaches. Researchers can collaborate across institutions, disciplines, and even continents, leveraging each other's expertise and resources to drive innovation and scientific progress.