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Research and writing in building African agency: The role of non-state actors in global governance of the environment and socio-economic development

BA International Writing Workshop IWW24\100764

Overview

This workshop series provided a platform for early-career researchers (ECRs) from the Humanities and Social Sciences in South Africa to develop research, writing, and networking skills by preparing a research paper for publication. This aimed to enhance African ECRs’ prospects and support research output from Africa. Through workshops and one-to-one mentoring, ECRs were supported in writing, publication, understanding external research grant capture, and enhancing the visibility and impact of research. This was undertaken by the partner institutions, Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the SARChI Chair: African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). The institutional collaboration facilitated the exchange of research cultures and diverse research networks among ECRs. Participants were guided in developing their own research projects on the theme of African non-state actors and global governance, linked to the SDGs and considering environmental and socio-economic development.

Programme

The workshop series built the individual and shared capacity of ECRs through 4 workshops, mentoring contact points, and network development. Mentoring contact points are established throughout the project to sustain momentum in research and writing between workshops. In addition, the final workshop allowed ECR participants to draw on the skills they have gained throughout the workshop series to present their research. As stakeholders from non-governmental organisations, academia, research organisations and government were invited to this workshop, it also provided an opportunity for the ECRs to expand their networking and research visibility. The workshops were held in person and online, hosted by NTU and UJ. Both partner institutions participated in all activities, with the responsibility for hosting the events distributed between NTU, which will host the online workshops, and UJ, which will host the in-person workshops in South Africa. Both institutions contributed equally in staffing, with staff providing training and mentoring for the ECRs. The mentor meetings (online) were included to support momentum and provide one-to-one advice for participants. The programme included:

  • A 3-day workshop with in-person and hybrid sessions.
  • Two online half-day workshops.
  • Five mentor meeting points (one-hour sessions).
  • A one and a half-day workshop in-person workshop.

Training and Mentors from Nottingham Trent University:

  1. Dr Lesley Masters – Senior Lecturer in International Relations
  2. Dr Marianna Poberezhskaya – Associate Professor in International Relations
  3. Dr Ana Nunes - Senior Lecturer in Politics
  4. Dr Katerina Krulisova – Associate Professor in International Relations

Training and Mentors from the University of Johannesburg:

  1. Dr Fritz Nganje – Associate Professor, HoD, Department of Politics and International Relations
  2. Dr Lisa Otto – Associate Professor in International Relations
  3. Dr Yu-Shan Wu, Senior Researcher, SARChI Chair
  4. Prof Anna-Mart Van Wyk, Professor in International Relations