2. Module Two: Leadership Challenges In Low Income Country Higher Education Research Ecosystems

Rapid Institutional Research Capacity Assessment Survey

Introduction: We have up to this point looked at the importance of LMIC HEI involvement in development research and why leadership is needed to drive this change. We also looked at the practices the practices that leaders undertake on getting teams to address challenges. In this session, we begin the processes leading to a full understanding of leadership challenges in LMIC institutions by getting a good understanding of what constitutes a university research ecosystem. A good understanding of the components of a university research ecosystem lays the foundation for leaders to be able to examine the different components to identify challenges and gaps.

Introduction: In this session, we build on the challenge model above to examine some of the development research leadership challenges in LIC HEIs using the 9 research ecosystem components highlighted before. The information used to identify the gaps is derived from the report titled: Assessment of the Research Context and Research Capacity in Higher Education Institutions in Africa, prepared for the LASER-Pulse network by the ResilientAfrica Network, from an assessment of 27 universities in Africa. As we go through this process, you should begin to identify which of the gaps described apply to your own institution as well as going beyond the information provided to identify other challenges pertinent to the respective ecosystem components as they apply to your institution.

In this live activity, an experienced resource person will deliver a video or web-based lecture on modern practices in transformational leadership. Participants will get an opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and chat. Registration details here.

Introduction: Now that we have completed a general description of common challenges affecting research leadership in LIC HEIS within the different capability areas, you are now ready to do you’re a specific gap analysis for your institution. This entire session will be a practical exercise in which you apply a leadership scan to your institution to identify ecosystem challenges and gaps.

Introduction: This activity builds on the previous activity as you continue to scan for leadership challenges in your own institution’s research ecosystem. The focus of this third diagnostic activity is to identify challenges and gaps related to how your institution is positioned to meet the needs of external stakeholders. In the activity, common challenges in how LMIC institutions relate to external stakeholders are reviewed, following which you then conduct a scan of your institution to list out the challenges and gaps pertinent to your situation.

Background: Research ecosystems in Low Income Country Higher Education Institutions face a wide range of challenges. In this webinar, a panel of research leaders drawn from leading universities in African and affiliated universities from the Global North discusses the challenges affecting research in these institutions. They also share lessons on interventions needed to address these challenges and examples of what has worked.