Prioritising University-Community engagement in North-South research partnerships

Abstract

This paper will respond to the theme of multidisciplinary areas of research that are considered of high importance for SANORD’s member universities and countries. It will explore the facilitation of existing networks and initiatives, with a specific focus on innovation, in forging partnerships that are useful and appropriate to communities. The ambition here is to address the knowledge discrepancies between universities and communities by establishing collaborative networks that actively involve members of both institutions. The strength of this endeavour is its reciprocal nature where local stakeholders are fruitfully and continuously engaged as network contributors and facilitators. Ultimately, the paper will present existing cases of North-South actions involving researchers, educators, and local role players that assist citizens of local (Southern) communities, aligned around mutual objectives in a single network.