THEME – WHY THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN RESEARCH SETTINGS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE

DATE – Wednesday December 16th 11.00 GMT

DURATION – 2.0 HOURS

Venue: Zoom Webinar - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/95191850243?pwd=RUgzYlBNSzZ3eVhQTUdLMDgvU1F2QT09

THE WOMEN IN RESEARCH WEBINAR

The importance of innovation in Africa is linked to the predictions of key institutions such as the African Union (2015) and some scholars (e.g. Ratten, 2020) who see innovation as one of the crucial factors necessary for Africa to achieve future success and solve its developmental challenges. For this to happen, serious efforts must be made to find new and inventive ways to improve living standards on the continent. Presently, the Association of African Universities (AAU) has been championing university-industry collaboration by organising workshops for university leadership to promote linkages between academia and industry (Mensah et al, 2019). Fundamentally, it is anticipated that the recursive interactions among these key actors, namely the university in charge of knowledge production, particularly through research; the industry representing knowledge users in various sectors of the economy who are responsible for innovation; and the government which exercises control and supports the interactions (Mêgnigbêto, 2013) is crucial to the development of African innovation systems.

Yet, despite the ‘openness’ of universities, government and businesses, these institutions are also deeply embedded in patriarchal systems that determine who participates in knowledge creation and exchange, what entrepreneurial activities are permitted, what markets are to be generated, and how resources will be mobilized (Pollitzer & Schraudner, 2015). The African Union has indicated in its Agenda 2063: The Future We Want for Africa: that “No society can reach its full potential, unless it empowers women and youth and removes all obstacles to women’s full participation in all areas of human endeavours. Africa must provide an enabling environment for its women, children and young people to flourish and reach their full potential” (African Union Commission, 2015, p.12). It is therefore important to discuss and explore the structures that enable and/or constrain women’s participation in research settings in Africa (both as researchers and research subjects).

A big part of the innovation for socioeconomic development plan will be achieved if a strategy for women-sensitive inclusive research and innovation can be realised in tandem with the Agenda 2063. Female equality is an enabler of innovation effectiveness, in the sense that it acknowledges that society is gendered, and women and men bring different perspectives to problems (Lee & Pollitzer, 2016). Essentially, Africa’s “full potential” cannot be achieved if we fail to recognize and respond to women’s needs which are different to those of men or include them in the entire research and innovation agenda.

As part of its objectives to promote this gender dimension of research content and innovations produced in Africa, Work Package 1 – Entrepreneurship and Innovation) of the RECIRCULATE Project is organizing a webinar on the theme: Why the Inclusion of Women in Research Settings is Non-Negotiable? The RECIRCULATE project (a £7m Capacity Building Project) is co-ordinated by Lancaster University in partnership with University of Benin (Nigeria), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (Ghana) and Lancaster University, Ghana campus, as well as ATPS (Kenya), NCST (Malawi) (NCST), Copperbelt University (Zambia) and BIUST (Botswana).

The objectives of the Webinar therefore include:

1. To highlight the UK Government funded Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) 7 Million Pounds RECIRCULATE project (Work Package 1 – Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and its progress so far in Africa.

2. To explore the challenges and opportunities for women and research in Africa.

3. Encourage knowledge exchange between different African countries especially in relation to women and research issues

4. To provide an opportunity for current and new stakeholders in different African countries to develop future collaborations, investments and development work around the area of women and research.

Brief Programme

10.00 – 10.10 Introduction of Participants/Stakeholders (Moderated by Dr. Akan Odon Lancaster University, UK)

10.10 – 10.20 Introduction to RECIRCULATE (Prof Kirk Semple, Lancaster University, UK)

10.20 – 10.35 African Women and Research (Dr Cynthia Forson, Lancaster University Ghana)

10.35 – 10.50 Researching African women entrepreneurs (Dr Lola Dada, Lancaster University, UK)

10.50 – 11.05 African Women in Science and Engineering (Prof Caroline Thoruwa, (Chair of the Africa Women in Science and Engineering ASWE)/RECIRCULATE Board Member)

11.05-11.35 Break-out Rooms – Specific Questions

11.35 – 12.00 Q/A and Wrap Up – Led by Joana

References

African Union Commission (2015). Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/en/africa/osaa/pdf/au/agenda2063.pdf

Lee, H., & Pollitzer, E. (2016a). Gender in science and innovation as a component of inclusive socioeconomic growth (2ed). London, UK: Portia Ltd.

Mensah, M.S.B., & Enu-Kwesi, F., & Boohene, R. (2019). Challenges of Research Collaboration in Ghana’s Knowledge-based Economy. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 10(1), 186-204.

Mêgnigbêto, E. (2013). Triple helix of university-industry-government relationships in West Africa. Journal of Scientometric Research, 2(3), 214–222.

Pollitzer, E., & Schraudner, M. (2015). Integrating Gender Dynamics into Innovation Ecosystems. Sociology and Anthropology, 3(11), 617-626.

Ratten, V. (2020b). Entrepreneurial ecosystems: Future research trends. Thunderbird International Business Review, 62(5), 623-628.

PARTICIPATE WITH RECIRCULATE - International Women in Research Webinar