Advancing Engaged Research Globally – Region by Region: Assessing Training Needs
Executive Summary
The “Advancing Engaged Research Globally — Region by Region: Assessing Training Needs” report presents findings from five regional workshops initiated by the Transdisciplinary Training Collaboratory and the Global Alliance for Inter- and Transdisciplinarity (ITD Alliance). These workshops aimed to evaluate the training needs for engaged research (an umbrella term used to encompass transdisciplinary research and neighboring approaches) across Latin America and the Caribbean; Sub-Saharan Africa; Europe, including Turkey and Russia; Asia; and the combined regions of the United States, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand.
The primary objective of these workshops was to identify and understand regional differences and similarities in training needs, identify key organizations, and propose actionable recommendations to enhance the practice of transdisciplinary research. The workshops included diverse participants such as researchers, educators, policymakers, stakeholders, and community representatives, and followed a structured agenda involving plenary discussions, breakout sessions, and surveys.
Key insights from the workshops include:
- Recognition of engaged research approaches: There is a consensus across world regions on the need to promote and integrate engaged research within academic and research institutions to effectively address complex societal challenges.
- Coordination and collaboration: Developing collaborative structures that foster relationships across disciplines and sectors is vital. This includes formal networks on different scales and professional associations.
- Training and capacity building: Comprehensive training programs are essential to equip various groups with necessary skills for engaged research. This should encompass diverse educational levels and continuous professional development.
- Involvement of diverse actors: A wide range of societal actors, including researchers, policymakers, community members, NGOs, and funding bodies, need to be actively involved to ensure multiple perspectives are considered in all phases of a research process.
- Conceptual pluralism: The conceptual vocabulary for engaged research is diverse and differs between world regions which is important to be taken into consideration to maintain visibility for all sorts of engaged research approaches and to avoid conceptual domination.
- Securing funding and resources: Stable funding and resources are critical for sustaining transdisciplinary initiatives, facilitating coordination, and providing necessary training.
Distinct regional priorities were also identified, with Latin America and the Caribbean emphasizing context-specific challenges, Sub-Saharan Africa focusing on infrastructure and training networks, Europe improving collaboration between researchers and practitioners in training and implementation, Asia aiming for sustainable programs through local partnerships, and US, Canada and Australia/New Zealand advocating for increased resources and awareness.
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Regional summary reports: