The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Coordinated Action for Agricultural Innovation.
The Difficult Art of Partnership and Institutional Commitment
Abstract:
This paper looks at two aspects of institutional development in
a university setting. It looks at how the design of South – North
collaboration may have a bearing on the type of partnership
that evolves. And it addresses the issue of how institutional
commitment influences the depth and intensity of change
processes. The paper will firstly examine the underlying
assumptions that guide designs of South – North collaboration
and how both deliberate and unintended consequences may
influence the nature of the partnership between the involved
institutions, especially while evolving and expanding such
partnerships. The paper will also address the issue of institutional
commitment as the impact of partnerships to a large degree
depends on the breadth and depth of the institutional
commitment. The aim is to identify the essential elements of
institutional commitment in successful partnerships for
institutional change. Finally, it will provide recommendations
for best practise in establishing partnerships with institutional
commitment within the university sector.
Cet article se penche sur deux aspects du développement
institutionnel dans un cadre universitaire. Il examine comment
la conception de la collaboration Sud - Nord peut avoir une
incidence sur le type de partenariat qui évolue. Et elle aborde
la question de la façon dont l’engagement institutionnel influe
sur la profondeur et l’intensité des processus de changement.
L’article examinera d’abord les hypothèses sous-jacentes qui
guident les modèles de collaboration Sud - Nord et comment
les conséquences à la fois délibérées et inattendues peuvent
influer sur la nature du partenariat entre les institutions
concernées, en particulier, tout en élaborant et en élargissant
de tels partenariats. L’article abordera également la question
de l’engagement institutionnel puisque l’impact des partenariats
dans une large mesure dépend de la largeur et la profondeur de l’engagement institutionnel. L’objectif est d’identifier les
éléments essentiels de l’engagement institutionnel dans des
partenariats réussis pour le changement institutionnel. Enfin, il
fournira des recommandations pour une meilleure pratique dans
l’instauration des partenariats avec engagement institutionnel
dans le secteur universitaire.
Language:
English
Extended Abstract for Coordinated Action for Agricultural Innovation
Date of publication:
2012
Region Focus:
Central Africa
East Africa
Southern Africa
West Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
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Licence conditions:
Open Access
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