Developing international research collaborations
Dr Jim Reid
HudCRES
I was first introduced to Professor Nicky Roman through a network of contacts when I was trying to identify appropriate partners to develop a research idea. That was two years ago and Nicky’s visit to the university in December, her appointment as visiting professor to HudCRES and the School of Education and Professional Development, and her commitment to working in partnership to develop new research was hard won. Of course, the school and university needed to be convinced of the benefits of the appointment - not a difficult argument given her position as South Africa Chair: Human Capabilities and Social Cohesion through the family at the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town.
The hard work, for both Nicky and me, was in developing a genuine and respectful working relationship that considered and reflected on issues of power, including in the enduring colonial legacy of the relationship between the global north and global south and how this continues to play out in research and higher education.
The context for this was illustrated by Professor Shannon Morreira, another recent visitor to the school from South Africa, in a workshop highlighting the epistemic hierarchy of African knowledge in the academy (Morreira 2017). The legacy of colonialism is a problem that many in South Africa are struggling to overcome, exacerbated by the recent history of apartheid and enduring structures of inequality. Indeed, the University College of Western Cape was established in 1960 as a constituent college of the University of South Africa for people classified by the government as “Coloured” [sic]. The modern university serves people from a variety of backgrounds and is proud of its mission to nurture the cultural diversity of South Africa.
In this context Nicky Roman’s work develops from a struggle for liberation with a need for new approaches to understand and work with families, and a society in transition.
Developing a distinctive research partnership therefore required recognition of relevant political and social history and narratives, and explicit consideration of how to achieve an equitable and purposeful working relationship. This has been achieved over time, through reciprocal visits, discussions, observations, co-production of funding applications, and sharing stories and food. See also: Developing a new research agenda with colleagues in South Africa.
There is continuing discussion and reflection of how each of us understands the other but also keen observation of how we in turn interact with local communities and people living and working within these communities. Being comfortable that a partnership is genuine and respectful requires more than an exchange of knowledge and understanding, it is both cerebral and corporeal, involving what we actually do, how we physically present and situate ourselves.
The willingness to listen to another’s views and experiences, and to demonstrate acceptance of their validity has introduced Nicky and I to each other’s ideas and knowledge, and to propose new concepts and fields for research.
Moreover, it has been important to be physically present, to be in the same room, spaces and places to demonstrate and experience empathy. This is significant in each of us accepting the other and, in our role as gatekeeper to our respective communities, institutions, people and practitioners, has presented an opportunity for collaborative and comparative research that could significantly benefit families and support their wellbeing.
Public Lecture
Professor Nicky Roman delivered the public lecture: Family-Centredness in Healthcare - striving for individual and family well-being during her visit to HudCRES and the School of Education and Professional Development in December 2022.
If you were unable to attend - watch the recording now.
