Vol. 7 No. 5 (2020)
Space and Culture, India

Themed Issue

Building Research Capacity in BRICS and Beyond: Lessons from the International Community

Published 2020-05-08

  • Ewelina Kinga Niemczyk

Ewelina Kinga Niemczyk
Professor, Education and Human Rights in Diversity Research Unit North-West University, South Africa

Special Issue

Abstract

Research capacity building and research productivity are essential to the economic flourishing of any nation. Over the past decade, innovation and investment in research and development in BRICS countries – especially India and China – have strongly contributed to their economic growth. The scholarly literature shows that the five-member states have high numbers of (a) university graduates – especially in the fields of engineering and computer science – and (b) research outputs – mainly quantitative. The issue, however, is that the quality of BRICS graduates is sometimes questionable, and the nations are not considered as relevant global players when it comes to the research impact factor. To that end, it is essential to align quantity with quality in BRICS’ higher education institutions. As growing economies, BRICS need to increase their investment in higher education and research capacity building to maximise their economic prosperity. Researchers who are knowledge producers and innovators can be considered the foremost role players in transferring university research to society. Therefore, investing in quality development and support is of the essence. This article is based on the voices of 32 international scholars affiliated with the Comparative Education Society in Europe. The respondents shared their views via an open-ended survey about: (a) the development of globally competent researchers; (b) the expectations placed on present-day researchers; and (c) the demands researchers face in terms of research productivity. The findings indicate that, regardless of the context, researchers are confronted with similar demands, namely: to secure funding; engage in international and interdisciplinary research projects; and produce tangible outputs. It is also evident that research capacity building at respondents’ respective institutions needs enhancement in order to align with the current research demands.

Keywords

research capacity; research productivity; globally competent researchers; BRICS countries; international qualitative study

pdf

References

  1. Bilbao-Osorio, B. (2014). How are the BRICS reaping the technology dividend? World Economic Forum. Retrieved on November 2, 2019 from, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/04/ict-building-block-growth-brics-2/
  2. Belay, K. (2018). China is growing as a university research superpower. Here’s how it could affect U.S. universities. Retrieved on January 10, 2020 from, https://eab.com/insights/expert-insight/university-research/china-is-growing-as-a-university-research-superpower
  3. Bitzer, E. (Ed.). (2009). Higher education in South Africa: A scholarly look behind the scenes. Stellenbosch: Sun Press. Journal of Student Affairs in Africa, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.14426/jsaa.v4i1.150 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14426/jsaa.v4i1.150
  4. BRICS Think Tanks Council. (2017). Realizing the BRICS long-term goals: Road-maps and pathways. Retrieved from http://sabtt.org.za/brics/long-term-strategy-for-brics/
  5. Carnoy, M. (2012). Will the BRIC countries become the new centers of high tech production and innovation? A look through the lens of changing university systems. Retrieved from http://scid.stanford.edu/system/files/shared/documents/Slides_Carnoy.pdf
  6. Cross, D., Thomson, S., & Sinclair, A. (2017). Research in Brazil. A report for CAPES by Clarivate Analytics. Retrieved on April 4, 2020 from, http://www.sibi.usp.br/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Relatório-Clarivate-Capes-InCites-Brasil-2018.pdf.
  7. European Parliament. (2012). The role of BRICS in the developing world. Report of the Directorate-general for external policies. Retrieved on January 22, 2020 from,https://www.ab.gov.tr/files/ardb/evt/1_avrupa_birligi/1_9_politikalar/1_9_8_dis_politika/The_role_of_BRICS_in_the_developing_world.pdf
  8. Freeman, C. (1982). Technological infrastructure and international competitiveness, Industrial and Corporate Change, 13(3), 541-569. https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/ dth022
  9. Gazizova A., Panfilova V., & Makarova, O. (2016). Towards Excellence in Russian Higher Education Institutions. International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies. Retrieved from http://www.ijhcs.com/index.php/ijhcs/index
  10. Given, L. M. 2008. Interpretive research. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods: 464‒467. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412963909
  11. Global R&D Funding Forecast. (2017). R&D Magazine, Winter 2017. Retrieved on December 1, 2019 from, www.rdmag.com
  12. Grochocki, L., Guimarães, J., Prata, A., & Oliveira, J. (2018). Engineering and development in Brazil, challenges and prospects: a new perspective on the topic. Innovation & Management Review, 15(1), 41–57. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/INMR-02-2018-003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/INMR-02-2018-003
  13. Gupte, M. (2015). Role of research and higher education in India. Abhinav International Monthly Refereed Journal of Research in Management & Technology, 4(1). Retrieved on February 11, 2020 from, http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.977.1299&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  14. Jayaraman, K. S., & Priyadarshini, S. (2018). Indian scientists concerned over funding crisis. Nature India. Retrieved on November 11, 2019 from, https://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2018.116
  15. Kolachi, N. A., & Shah, H. A. (2013). BRICS Countries And Their Strategic HRD Agenda In 2020. International Journal of Management & Information Systems (IJMIS), 17(2), 105–112. doi: https://doi.org/10.19030/ijmis.v17i2.7714 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19030/ijmis.v17i2.7714
  16. Lewis, D. (2017). Funding debate over paper quality vs quantity. Nature Index. Retrieved on December 2, 2019 from, https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/funding-debate-over-paper-quality-vs-quantity
  17. McGinn, M. K. (2012). Being academic researchers: Navigating pleasures and pains in the current Canadian context. Workplace, 21, 14-24.
  18. Meyer, N. P., & Nascimento, M. (2014). Some trends in higher education and research in BRICS countries. In A. Bawa, N. Bohler-Muller, S. Fikeni, S. Zondi, & S. Naidu (Eds.), Fifth BRICS academic forum Pretoria: Department of International Relations and Cooperation (pp. 117-133).
  19. Minch, M. (2013). Higher Education and Research in India. International Journal of Social Science & Interdisciplinary Research. Retrieved on October 1, 2019 from, http://indianresearchjournals.com/pdf/IJSSIR/2013/March/10.pdf
  20. Mullen, C. A., Murthy, U., & Teague, G. (2008). Listening to those we serve: Assessing the research needs of university faculty. Journal of Research Administration, 39(1), 10-31.
  21. Niemczyk, E. K. (2018). Developing globally competent researchers: International perspective. South African Journal of Higher Education, 32(4), 171-185. doi. org/10.20853/32-4-1602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20853/32-4-1602
  22. Odhiambo, N. M., & Ntenga, L. (2015). Higher Education Research Expenditure in South Africa: A Review of the New Funding Framework. Industry and Higher Education, 29(4), 283-291. doi: https://doi.org/10.5367/ihe.2015.0263 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5367/ihe.2015.0263
  23. Orlikowski, W. J., & Baroudi, J. J. (1991). Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions. Information Systems Research, 2(1), 1–28. doi: https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2.1.1
  24. Panigrahi, J. (2019). Financing of Higher Education Institutions: Evidence from select case studies of universities in India. Arthika Charche: FPI Journal of Economics & Governance. Retrieved from http://fpibangalore.gov.in/english/FPI-Journal.asp
  25. Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  26. Prasad, R. (2015). Fake journals: ‘Make in India’ gone wrong. The Hindu. Retrieved from http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/fake-journals-make-in-indiagone-wrong/article7800231.ece
  27. Rajan, K. S., Swaminathan, S., & Vaidhyasubramaniam, S. (2018). Research Output of Indian Institutions during 2011–2016: Quality and Quantity Perspective. Current Science, 114(4), 740-746. doi: 10.18520/cs/v114/i04/740-746 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v114/i04/740-746
  28. Reddy, S. (2018). The Growing BRICS Economies: An INET Series. Institute for New Economic Thinking. Retrieved on November 10, 2019 from, https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/blog/the-growing-brics-economies-an-inet-series
  29. Roller, M. R., & Lavrakas, P. J. (2015). Applied qualitative research design: A total quality framework approach. New York: Guilford Press.
  30. Sesay, B., Yulin, Z., & Wang, F. (2018). Does the national innovation system spur economic growth in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa economies? Evidence from panel data. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 21(1), a1647. doi: https://doi.org/10.4102/ sajems.v21i1.1647 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v21i1.1647
  31. Smolentseva, A. (2015). The Idea of a Research University in Russia. International Higher Education, 47. doi: https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2007.47.7965 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2007.47.7965
  32. Sparkes, A. C. (2007). Embodiment, academics, and the audit culture: A story seeking consideration. Qualitative Research, 7, 521-550. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794107082306 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794107082306
  33. Wang, D. (2019). Performance-based resource allocation for higher education institutions in China. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 65(C), 66-75. doi: 10.1016/j.seps.2018.01.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2018.01.004
  34. Wolhuter, C. (2019). The Salience of African Scholars in Education Research. Africa Education Review, 16(1), 142-157, doi: 10.1080/18146627.2016.1241669 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2016.1241669
  35. Wolhuter, C. (2008). Review of the Review: Constructing the Identity of Comparative Education. Research in Comparative and International Education, 3(4): 323–344.
  36. World Bank. (1998). World Development Report 1998/199: Knowledge for Development. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved on January 12, 2020 from, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/5981
  37. Zinurova, R. I., Berman, S. S., Tuzikov, A. R., Gayazova, E. B., Stayzhkina, E. I., Medvedeva, V. R., & Frolova, I. A. (2016). The management of Russian universities on the basis of international education quality standards. 6. 204-211.
  38. Xie, Q., & Freeman, R. B. (2019). Bigger than You Thought: China's Contribution to Scientific Publications and its Impact on the Global Economy. China & World Economy, 27(1), 1–27. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cwe.12265 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cwe.12265

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.