3. Module Three: Intervening to Address Research Ecosystem Challenges in Low Income Country Higher Education Institutions

Introduction: Leadership starts with an individual taking a decision to lead others. In order to tale this step, potential leaders need to start by understanding their own self and what drives them. By understanding themselves, leaders are able to identify gaps in their own readiness to lead, for which they can take remedial actions to improve their readiness. Leaders also need to develop the motivation to lead as well as a system of values that guides their leadership styles. In this session, we focus on how the individual gets ready to lead.

Introduction: In the previous sessions, we have seen that LMIC HEIs are faced with many challenges. These challenges need to be identified, assessed, and understood so that leaders can take actions to address them. In the next session, we shall link these challenges to leadership actions that need to be undertaken. We shall start by examining the four key practices of a leader. Thereafter, we shall examine the ingredients of a well-functioning research leadership ecosystem, guided by the 9 core ecosystem components (Elements of a successful research ecosystem). These ingredients will then guide you in identifying and prioritizing which actions need to be undertaken in your own institution.

Introduction: Now that we have completed a gap analysis on your own institution, we would like you to go through this activity in which you identify possible actions that your institution needs to undertake to address the gaps/challenges that you have identified in the previous gap analysis (Diagnostic Activity 2) under each of the 9 ecosystem components.

Introduction: In the previous activity, we identified actions needed to address the research ecosystem gaps identified in an earlier ecosystem diagnostic activity. In this session, we continue with the identification of intervention actions, but this time focusing on how to address gaps in your institution’s relevance to external stakeholders. This will be based on the gaps identified in Diagnostic Activity 3.