Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects
Introduction: Increasing efforts are being made globally on capacity building. North–south research partnerships have contributed significantly to enhancing the research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) over the past few decades; however, a lack of skilled researchers to inform h...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/30522/pdf_352 |
| _version_ | 1828408501179777024 |
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| author | Rosanna Färnman Vishal Diwan Merrick Zwarenstein Salla Atkins |
| author_facet | Rosanna Färnman Vishal Diwan Merrick Zwarenstein Salla Atkins |
| author_sort | Rosanna Färnman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Increasing efforts are being made globally on capacity building. North–south research partnerships have contributed significantly to enhancing the research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) over the past few decades; however, a lack of skilled researchers to inform health policy development persists, particularly in LMICs. The EU FP7 funded African/Asian Regional Capacity Development (ARCADE) projects were multi-partner consortia aimed to develop a new generation of highly trained researchers from universities across the globe, focusing on global health-related subjects: health systems and services research and research on social determinants of health. This article aims to outline the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the life course of the projects, focusing on the key outputs and experiences of developing and implementing these two projects together with sub-Saharan African, Asian and European institution partners. Design: Sixteen participants from 12 partner institutions were interviewed. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis, which resulted in four themes and three sub-categories. These data were complemented by a review of project reports. Results: The results indicated that the ARCADE projects have been successful in developing and delivering courses, and have reached over 920 postgraduate students. Some partners thought the north–south and south–south partnerships that evolved during the project were the main achievement. However, others found there to be a ‘north–south divide’ in certain aspects. Challenges included technical constraints and quality assurance. Additionally, adapting new teaching and learning methods into current university systems was challenging, combined with not being able to award students with credits for their degrees. Conclusion: The ARCADE projects were introduced as an innovative and ambitious project idea, although not designed appropriately for all partner institutions. Some challenges were underestimated from the beginning, and for such future projects, a more structured approach needs to be adopted. ARCADE partners learned that integrating courses into current university systems and awarding students credits are essential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:39:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0099a9c56e854143968a56daffdc12be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T11:39:47Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj.art-0099a9c56e854143968a56daffdc12be2022-12-22T01:50:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802016-10-019011010.3402/gha.v9.3052230522Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projectsRosanna Färnman0Vishal Diwan1Merrick Zwarenstein2Salla Atkins3 Department of Public Health Sciences (Global Health/IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Public Health Sciences (Global Health/IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada Department of Public Health Sciences (Global Health/IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenIntroduction: Increasing efforts are being made globally on capacity building. North–south research partnerships have contributed significantly to enhancing the research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) over the past few decades; however, a lack of skilled researchers to inform health policy development persists, particularly in LMICs. The EU FP7 funded African/Asian Regional Capacity Development (ARCADE) projects were multi-partner consortia aimed to develop a new generation of highly trained researchers from universities across the globe, focusing on global health-related subjects: health systems and services research and research on social determinants of health. This article aims to outline the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the life course of the projects, focusing on the key outputs and experiences of developing and implementing these two projects together with sub-Saharan African, Asian and European institution partners. Design: Sixteen participants from 12 partner institutions were interviewed. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis, which resulted in four themes and three sub-categories. These data were complemented by a review of project reports. Results: The results indicated that the ARCADE projects have been successful in developing and delivering courses, and have reached over 920 postgraduate students. Some partners thought the north–south and south–south partnerships that evolved during the project were the main achievement. However, others found there to be a ‘north–south divide’ in certain aspects. Challenges included technical constraints and quality assurance. Additionally, adapting new teaching and learning methods into current university systems was challenging, combined with not being able to award students with credits for their degrees. Conclusion: The ARCADE projects were introduced as an innovative and ambitious project idea, although not designed appropriately for all partner institutions. Some challenges were underestimated from the beginning, and for such future projects, a more structured approach needs to be adopted. ARCADE partners learned that integrating courses into current university systems and awarding students credits are essential.http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/30522/pdf_352institutionspartnersstudentsnorth–south collaborationglobal healthcourse development |
| spellingShingle | Rosanna Färnman Vishal Diwan Merrick Zwarenstein Salla Atkins Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects Global Health Action institutions partners students north–south collaboration global health course development |
| title | Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects |
| title_full | Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects |
| title_fullStr | Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects |
| title_short | Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships – key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects |
| title_sort | successes and challenges of north south partnerships key lessons from the african asian regional capacity development projects |
| topic | institutions partners students north–south collaboration global health course development |
| url | http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/30522/pdf_352 |
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