Collaboration: A Sure Path to Revolutionising African Research and Development - Adepehin
So, I walked into a colleague's office and found my unpublished manuscript opened on her computer screen.
A senior collaborator I shared the work with for his input forwarded it to her. I was certainly disappointed, but that is not the subject for now.
Today, I am addressing the rather low contribution of African researchers to the global research pool. Though it is home to about 1.3 billion of Earth's inhabitants, the African continent produces a meagre 2 percent of world research output, accounts for only 1.3 percent of research spending, and produces 0.1 percent of all patents. It's ridiculous, right?
I admit that several factors, such as low investment in research, poor research culture, insufficient capable personnel in tertiary education systems, and overburdening existing academic staff with non-research engagements, among others, have contributed to this.
Nevertheless, a hidden root cause is poor teamwork and wrong mindsets. The 'publish or perish' syndrome has done Africa no good, as huge amounts of substandard manuscripts are rolled out to predatory journals whose watchword is 'pay and get published.'
Some poorly crafted papers could have made novel contributions if only authors were open-minded enough to seek the expertise of colleagues from their institutions, nations, and other parts of the World.
Collaboration is essential for advancing knowledge, solving complex problems, and making breakthrough discoveries. By working together, scientists can achieve more than they could on their own and make a greater impact on the world. Let me make a few remarks about these highlighted benefits!
Collaboration allows scientists with different areas of expertise to work together to solve complex problems. By pooling their knowledge and skills, they can often achieve more than they could working alone. Collaborating scientists can share access to expensive equipment, specialized facilities, and research materials. This can reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Scientific collaboration increases productivity- collaborators can divide tasks, work in parallel, and share the workload, which can lead to increased productivity and faster completion of projects.
Research partnerships can lead to more rigorous and comprehensive research by bringing together diverse perspectives and ensuring that research is peer-reviewed and critiqued by experts in multiple fields.
Perhaps one of the most striking benefits of collaboration is its strong potential to enhance innovation. Collaborating scientists can spark new ideas and approaches by sharing insights and brainstorming together. This can lead to new findings and innovations.
However, collaboration is not just about sharing resources and knowledge; it also requires the right mindset to be successful. Developing the right mindset for collaboration involves several key principles, including trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Trust is the foundation of any successful collaboration. It allows team members to rely on each other, share information and knowledge, and work together towards a common goal.
Without trust, collaboration can quickly break down, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and frustration.
You can probably understand why I felt disappointed at what the professor who shared my unpublished work did. Our collaboration certainly died a natural death, although I sometimes feel I could have managed the situation better. To develop trust, team members should be transparent about their actions and intentions, communicate openly and honestly, and hold themselves accountable for their commitments.
Another critical principle for collaboration is openness. Being open means being receptive to new ideas and perspectives and being willing to accept feedback and criticism. Openness also means being willing to share information and knowledge freely, without fear of judgment or reprisal. When team members are open, they can build on each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a more robust and effective team dynamic.
Respect is also essential for collaboration. It means acknowledging and valuing each team member's contributions, ideas, and perspectives. It means treating everyone with dignity and fairness, regardless of their role or position in the team. When team members feel respected, engaged and motivated, they are more likely to foster better collaboration and achieve improved outcomes.
Furthermore, a crucial aspect of successful collaboration is having a willingness to learn and adapt. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing circumstances are essential in collaborative efforts. Team members should remain open to acquiring new skills and approaches while being ready to adapt their behaviors and strategies to meet the team's needs.
By embracing a mindset that promotes learning and adaptation, team members can effectively overcome obstacles and challenges, resulting in enhanced collaboration outcomes.
As I recap, remember that developing the right mindset for collaboration encompasses several key principles, such as trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By embracing these principles, team members can forge stronger and more effective collaborations, leading to better outcomes and overall success.
Collaboration may not always be effortless, but with the appropriate mindset, it can become a rewarding and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.
If you have reached this point in the article and find yourself within the academic system or aspiring to be part of it, what is preventing you from initiating and sustaining strong research collaboration?
An effective collaboration always yields greater rewards for your efforts. Let us collaborate and revolutionize the paradigm of African research.
If this piece has inspired you, please share it and leave your thoughts!!!.
Adepehin Ekundayo (PhD)
So, I walked into a colleague's office and found my unpublished manuscript opened on her computer screen.
A senior collaborator I shared the work with for his input forwarded it to her. I was certainly disappointed, but that is not the subject for now.
Today, I am addressing the rather low contribution of African researchers to the global research pool. Though it is home to about 1.3 billion of Earth's inhabitants, the African continent produces a meagre 2 percent of world research output, accounts for only 1.3 percent of research spending, and produces 0.1 percent of all patents. It's ridiculous, right?
I admit that several factors, such as low investment in research, poor research culture, insufficient capable personnel in tertiary education systems, and overburdening existing academic staff with non-research engagements, among others, have contributed to this.
Nevertheless, a hidden root cause is poor teamwork and wrong mindsets. The 'publish or perish' syndrome has done Africa no good, as huge amounts of substandard manuscripts are rolled out to predatory journals whose watchword is 'pay and get published.'
Some poorly crafted papers could have made novel contributions if only authors were open-minded enough to seek the expertise of colleagues from their institutions, nations, and other parts of the World.
Collaboration is essential for advancing knowledge, solving complex problems, and making breakthrough discoveries. By working together, scientists can achieve more than they could on their own and make a greater impact on the world. Let me make a few remarks about these highlighted benefits!
Collaboration allows scientists with different areas of expertise to work together to solve complex problems. By pooling their knowledge and skills, they can often achieve more than they could working alone. Collaborating scientists can share access to expensive equipment, specialized facilities, and research materials. This can reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Scientific collaboration increases productivity- collaborators can divide tasks, work in parallel, and share the workload, which can lead to increased productivity and faster completion of projects.
Research partnerships can lead to more rigorous and comprehensive research by bringing together diverse perspectives and ensuring that research is peer-reviewed and critiqued by experts in multiple fields.
Perhaps one of the most striking benefits of collaboration is its strong potential to enhance innovation. Collaborating scientists can spark new ideas and approaches by sharing insights and brainstorming together. This can lead to new findings and innovations.
However, collaboration is not just about sharing resources and knowledge; it also requires the right mindset to be successful. Developing the right mindset for collaboration involves several key principles, including trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
Trust is the foundation of any successful collaboration. It allows team members to rely on each other, share information and knowledge, and work together towards a common goal.
Without trust, collaboration can quickly break down, leading to misunderstandings, conflicts, and frustration.
You can probably understand why I felt disappointed at what the professor who shared my unpublished work did. Our collaboration certainly died a natural death, although I sometimes feel I could have managed the situation better. To develop trust, team members should be transparent about their actions and intentions, communicate openly and honestly, and hold themselves accountable for their commitments.
Another critical principle for collaboration is openness. Being open means being receptive to new ideas and perspectives and being willing to accept feedback and criticism. Openness also means being willing to share information and knowledge freely, without fear of judgment or reprisal. When team members are open, they can build on each other's strengths and weaknesses, creating a more robust and effective team dynamic.
Respect is also essential for collaboration. It means acknowledging and valuing each team member's contributions, ideas, and perspectives. It means treating everyone with dignity and fairness, regardless of their role or position in the team. When team members feel respected, engaged and motivated, they are more likely to foster better collaboration and achieve improved outcomes.
Furthermore, a crucial aspect of successful collaboration is having a willingness to learn and adapt. Flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing circumstances are essential in collaborative efforts. Team members should remain open to acquiring new skills and approaches while being ready to adapt their behaviors and strategies to meet the team's needs.
By embracing a mindset that promotes learning and adaptation, team members can effectively overcome obstacles and challenges, resulting in enhanced collaboration outcomes.
As I recap, remember that developing the right mindset for collaboration encompasses several key principles, such as trust, openness, respect, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By embracing these principles, team members can forge stronger and more effective collaborations, leading to better outcomes and overall success.
Collaboration may not always be effortless, but with the appropriate mindset, it can become a rewarding and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.
If you have reached this point in the article and find yourself within the academic system or aspiring to be part of it, what is preventing you from initiating and sustaining strong research collaboration?
An effective collaboration always yields greater rewards for your efforts. Let us collaborate and revolutionize the paradigm of African research.
If this piece has inspired you, please share it and leave your thoughts!!!.
Adepehin Ekundayo (PhD)
