scholarly journals Tackling the behavioural antecedents of knowledge production: research culture, behavioural intentionality and proactive agenda setting by scholars in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 9s1 ◽  
pp. 183-213
Author(s):  
Bill Buenar Puplampu
Keyword(s):  
Educational Policy ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Research Culture ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Institutional Barriers ◽  
Production Research ◽  
Behavioural Aspects

This article advances the view that the conversation around repositioning Africa�s place in knowledge production requires a critical examination of the actions, behaviours, and institutionalised agendas antecedent to and concomitant to producing credible knowledge. The article explores this issue by bringing together three interrelated themes: the behavioural aspects of knowledge production with respect to organisational and research culture; the research and writing posture of academics in African institutions; and the need for deliberate and intentional agenda setting by scholarly associations in Africa. The �fight� for Africa�s place in producing relevant knowledge must be three pronged. While there are historical dogmas that have internationally conspired to delegitimise indigenous propositions, there are also institutional barriers in-country (such as poor research/educational policy) which hinder the development of strong research prospects. Finally, research behaviour is necessarily a consequence of behavioural intention; such intention is a consequence of attitude towards and subjective norms about research. These must be tackled from a behavioural standpoint. This article therefore suggests means by which scholars and relevant institutions in African countries may reclaim and possess their own knowledge agendas and, as it were, �tell their own story�.

scholarly journals What can the African diaspora contribute to innovation and knowledge creation? The case study of Zimbabwean innovators

2021 ◽  
Vol 9s1 ◽  
pp. 101-125
Author(s):  
Juliet Thondhlana ◽  
Roda Madziva ◽  
Evelyn Chiyevo Garwe
Keyword(s):  
Brain Drain ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Highly Qualified ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Rich Countries ◽  
Innovation And Development

The importance of diaspora and transnational knowledge production, innovation, and development is of growing interest, particularly in the developing world. The phenomenal increase in high human capital migration from poor to rich countries has historically led to what is commonly known as brain drain, which has negatively impacted the capacity of such countries to innovate. Yet more recently the emergence of the phenomenon of transnationalism has demonstrated the potential to transform brain drain into brain circulation, for the mutual benefit of both sending and receiving contexts. This article uses the case of Zimbabwe to explore the role of diasporan professionals, scholars, and entrepreneurs in contributing to knowledge production, innovation, and development initiatives in their countries of origin. Zimbabwe is an example of many African countries that have experienced substantial attrition of highly qualified knowledge workers for various reasons. A qualitative approach, involving interviews and documentary evidence, enabled the researchers to engage with the Zimbabwean diaspora to capture their narratives regarding the challenges and opportunities, which were then used to develop successful transnational knowledge production initiatives.

Revisiting the Memory of Solferino: Knowledge Production and the Laws of War

2021 ◽  
pp. 256-275
Author(s):  
Eyal Benvenisti ◽  
Doreen Lustig
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
19Th Century ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Agenda Setting ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Laws Of War ◽  
History Of ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
First Time

During the course of the second half of the 19th century, the rules regulating the conduct of armies during hostilities were internationally codified for the first time. The conventional narrative attributes the codification of the laws of war to the campaign of civil society, especially that of the founders of the Red Cross—Henry Dunant and Gustav Moynier. In what follows, we problematize this narrative and trace the construction of this knowledge. We explore how the leading figures of the Red Cross, who were aware of the shortcomings of their project, were nonetheless invested in narrating its history as a history of success. Their struggle to control the narrative would eventually confer the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with considerable interpretive and agenda-setting authority in the realm of the laws of war. We dwell on the meaning of this conscious exercise in knowledge production and its normative ramifications.

scholarly journals ‘Primitive’: A key concept in Chidester’s critique of imperial and Van der Leeuw’s phenomenological study of religion

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan M. Strijdom
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
Theories Of Religion ◽  
History Of ◽  
Indigenous Religions ◽  
Fundamental Shift ◽  
Academic Study

A critical examination of the history of theories and uses of concepts such as ‘primitive’ and ‘savage’ in the academic study of religion in imperial, colonial and postcolonial contexts is particularly urgent in our time with its demands to decolonise Western models of knowledge production. In Savage Systems (1996) and Empire of Religion (2014), David Chidester has contributed to this project by relating the invention and use of terms such as ‘religion’, ‘primitive’ and ‘savage’ by theorists of religion in European imperial metropoles to South African colonial and indigenous contexts. This article intends to take Chidester’s project further by relating Gerardus Van der Leeuw’s phenomenological analysis of ‘primitive mentality’ (particularly in De primitieve mensch en de religie, 1937) to Chidester’s analysis and postcolonial critique of imperial theories of religion. By taking animism and dreams in Chidester’s and Van der Leeuw’s works as example, it is argued that in spite of the latter’s decontextualised use of ethnological material, a fundamental shift occurred in the judgement of ‘primitive’ religion from Tylor’s evolutionary to Van der Leeuw’s phenomenological analysis, which is contrary to claims according to which modern theories are unanimously denigratory of indigenous religions.

scholarly journals Mobile learning policy and practice in Africa: Towards inclusive and equitable access to higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogers Kaliisa ◽  
Picard Michelle
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Mobile Learning ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Equitable Access ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Institutional Barriers ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Current State ◽  
African Higher Education

This article presents the results of a review of practice and policy in relation to mobile learning and its potential to enhance inclusive and equitable access to higher education in Africa. We reviewed academic literature on potential barriers. Then, we explored the current state of the mobile learning policy environment in 10 African countries through an analysis of how these policies have tried to address the prominent challenges in the adoption of mobile learning as identified in the literature. The findings reveal that significant resourcing inequalities and epistemological, sociocultural, and institutional barriers remain and affect mobile learning adoption. The analysis also reveals that there is still a policy vacuum in relation to mobile learning specific policies within African higher education institutional and governmental policies. Thus, the formal integration of mobile learning in higher education to facilitate equitable access is very much in its infancy. This article suggests a strong need for institutional, cross-institutional, national and African-wide mobile learning specific policies to ensure better implementation of mobile learning. As interest in mobile learning continues to grow, this review will provide insights into policy and strategic planning for the adoption of mobile learning to achieve inclusive and equitable access to higher education.

scholarly journals “Everything is so different...”

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Academic Culture ◽  
Institutional Policy ◽  
Research Culture ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
African Countries ◽  
African Students ◽  
Financial Difficulties

In the scope of higher education internationalisation, Portuguese universities have been receiving an increasing number of students from Portuguese-Speaking countries, namely African countries, at the level of PhD studies. As highlighted in research, pursuing a PhD in an overseas context entails critical challenges for students, supervisors and higher education institutions. Against this background, this paper reports on the challenges faced by international African students attending a PhD programme in Education at a Portuguese university. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven students and results from thematic analysis show that the main challenges relate to language, integration into a different pedagogical/academic culture, adaptation to a different research culture, loneliness/homesickness and financial difficulties. Implications of findings for institutional policy and practice are put forward.

scholarly journals Building a CPTED research culture in Portugal: a bibliometric and social network analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Saraiva ◽  
Ana Amante ◽  
Hélder Santos ◽  
Paula Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
International Community ◽  
Research Culture ◽  
Dual Approach ◽  
Time Line

AbstractAlthough CPTED is recognized as an important crime deterrent for some decades, there are countries where it is still in its infancy, and knowledge and dissemination are scarce. Portugal is such an example. Only in the last decade has research specifically focused on CPTED, with little convergence between the different spheres of knowledge production, such as the academia, the police or the administration. In this paper, we argue that to build a CPTED culture, these spheres need to converge. Using the Portuguese CPTED experience as a case study, we apply methodologies of social network analysis to explore the relationships between different actors and the research time-line. Through a bibliographical analysis, we further delve on the authors and theories that most influenced Portuguese CPTED. This dual approach allows introducing the little known Portuguese CPTED experience to the international community, as well as discussing how the mechanisms of knowledge production integrate towards a more cohesive implementation.

HOW TO IMPROVE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF APPROACHES FOR MANAGEMENT ADVICE FOR FAMILYFARMS IN AFRICA? TOWARDS ARESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTAGENDA

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy FAURE ◽  
Aurélie TOILLIER ◽  
Anne LEGILE ◽  
Ismail MOUMOUNI ◽  
Vital PELON ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Family Farms ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Francophone Africa ◽  
Advisory Services ◽  
Management Advice

A plurality of forms of advisory services provided by a variety of actors has recently grown in Francophone Africa. In this context experiments in MAFF (Management Advice for Family Farms) conducted in many Francophone African countries have sought to promote advice to farmers based on learning methods by using farm management tools. Questions now arise on the scaling up of these experiences and their institutional and financial sustainability. In order to draw out lessons from past, stakeholders from various countries were asked to carry out a reflexive and collective assessment of their MAFF mechanism, regarding governance, funding, methods and capacity building issues. The results have been shared during a workshop held in 2012 in Benin. The results show diversity in governance mechanisms of MAFF. Most often, POs (Producers Organization) play a central role in the implementation of advisory services. Financial contributions from farmers and their POs are still low but promising funding possibilities do exist. Many difficulties are due to a lack of well trained advisors related to poor national specific training programs for advisers. Farmer extension workers appear as a key issue for scaling-up advisory services. However innovation in advising methods and knowledge production about MAFF impacts are required.

scholarly journals The challenges of transdisciplinary knowledge production: from unilocal to comparative research

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 481-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Simon ◽  
Henrietta Palmer ◽  
Jan Riise ◽  
Warren Smit ◽  
Sandra Valencia
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Comparative Research ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Current Phase ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Urban Futures ◽  
Production Research ◽  
Reflective Evaluation ◽  
The Uk

This reflective paper surveys the lessons learnt and challenges faced by the Mistra Urban Futures (MUF) research centre and its research platforms in Sweden, the UK, South Africa and Kenya in developing and deploying different forms of transdisciplinary co-production of knowledge. Considerable experience with a distinctive portfolio of such methods has been gained and reflective evaluation is now under way. While it is important to understand the local context within which each method has evolved, we seek to explain the potential for adaptation in diverse contexts so that such knowledge co-production methods can be more widely utilized. Furthermore, the current phase of MUF’s work is undertaking innovative comparative transdisciplinary co-production research across its research platforms. Since the specific local projects differ, systematic thematic comparison requires great care and methodological rigour. Transdisciplinary co-production is inherently complex, time consuming and often unpredictable in terms of outcomes, and these challenges are intensified when it is undertaken comparatively.

scholarly journals Mapping Academic Literature on Governing Inclusive Green Growth in Africa: Geographical Biases and Topical Gaps

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Cooper ◽  
Chipo Mukonza ◽  
Eleanor Fisher ◽  
Yacob Mulugetta ◽  
Mulu Gebreeyesus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Green Growth ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Stage Process

A strong indigenous capacity for credible, salient and legitimate knowledge production is crucial to support African countries in developing their economies and societies inclusively and sustainably. In this article, we aim to quantify the current and historic capacity for African knowledge production to support the green economy in Africa, and identify important topical gaps. With a focus on topics relating to Governing Inclusive Green Growth in Africa (GIGGA), our research mapped how much Africa-focused research is being produced, from where and which African countries have higher or lower supply; and the topical focus of the research, mapping it against the African GIGGA policy discourses visible in government strategies. To do this we undertook a systematic review using a two-stage process, mapping the literature for GIGGA. This resulted in 960 verified citations. Content analysis of core metadata and article abstracts enabled mapping of the research focus. The analysis revealed a significant role for South Africa as both the pre-eminent producer of GIGGA literature as well as the geographic focus of GIGGA research, with Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya representing emerging loci of credible, African-relevant knowledge production. Topically, there was a strong emphasis on development, policy and environment while topics important for growth that is inclusive in character were infrequent or absent. Overall the results reinforced the view that investment is needed in research on inclusive green growth, linked to capacity building for knowledge production systems in Africa. Furthermore, from a policy perspective, policy makers and academics need to actively explore best to collaborate to ensure that academic research informs government policy.

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