Institute for Developing Nations
Knowledge for Empowerment, Partnership for Change
Knowledge for Empowerment, Partnership for Change
Conference on partnerships in higher education
As part of its inauguration, the Institute for Developing Nations sponsored a conference on research collaborations. The conference was especially concerned with two areas of inquiry.- First, how might we begin to imagine new kinds of conversations and relationships among communities, universities, and NGOs in areas such as health, authority, governance, and resource management, addressing key issues in culture and development such as civil society and indigenous knowledge? What are the implications of research networks for setting research agendas, conducting research and the outcomes of research?
- Second, how does one begin to create durable structures and processes that nurture and sustain unexpected questions and practices across disciplines and publics engaged in the work of development? In order to collaborate as full and equal partners we need to acknowledge that there are some structural inequalities built into the relationship, mainly centered on unequal access to scholarly resources and time. How can we transcend these inequalities and structure research collaborations that build mutually supportive relationships; expand human capabilities; address pressing social problems; and maintain the university's autonomy--a vital component of democracy in all societies.