Establishing and maintaining international collaborative research teams: an autobiographical insight
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
NWU School of basic sciences
Abstract
Despite the growing impetus for international collaborative research teams (ICRT), there are relatively few resources available to guide and support researchers through the processes of establishing and maintaining ICRTs. In particular, no articles were found that provided researchers’ firsthand accounts of being a member of such a team. Having access to such personal accounts can help both experienced and novice researchers learn more directly about what to expect, as well as the benefits, challenges, pitfalls, and success strategies for establishing and maintaining ICRTs. The authors used phenomenological autobiographical reflective journaling to capture their experiences as
members of ICRTs. In this article we provide an overview of key themes that emerged
from the analysis of our reflections as members of ICRTs. These themes include:
benefits, challenges, and strategies for success. Our aim is to share our first-hand
experiences of what it is like to establish and participate in ICRT. It is not our intention
to provide readers with prescriptive guidelines on how to set up and maintain ICRTs.
Every ICRT is unique and some of these ideas may or may not apply in every case.
Instead, we are describing what worked for us, hoping that others may benefit from our
experience. Consequently, we suggest that the focus of ICRT should be on the benefits
thereof which promote and encourage interaction between disciplines, transfer of
knowledge and techniques and personal and professional development.
Description
Keywords
International, Collaborative, Research, Teams, Interdisciplinary
Citation
Carr, T.J., van der Walt, C., Watson, F. & Linda, N. (2013). Establishing and maintaining international collaborative research teams: an autobiographical insight. TD: The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 9 (1) :94 -112