Contents
Organizers
- Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)
- International Science, Technology, and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) for South-South Cooperation under the Auspices of UNESCO
Background
Over the past two decades, the higher education landscape in the Global South, particularly in Southeast Asia, has experienced profound shifts due to globalization and internationalization. These changes are reflected in the increasing diversity of campuses, marked by a rising presence of international students and faculty members. Additionally, there is a heightened emphasis on achieving global recognition leading to closer collaborations with universities worldwide and the pursuit of regional and international accreditation for academic programs. Consequently, higher education institutions (HEIs) face evolving expectations, emphasizing innovative teaching methods, impactful research endeavors, and efforts to commercialize research outcomes to meet global standards.
Despite these, the academic research ecosystem encounters significant challenges, especially in the Global South. One prominent issue is the pervasive “publish or perish” culture, which prioritizes quantity over the quality of research output. Added to these are limited funding opportunities, heightened competition for grants that constrain researchers’ ability to pursue innovative projects, and administrative burdens such as excessive paperwork and bureaucratic processes. As HEIs adapt to these changes, effective management, particularly among mid-career researchers and academic leaders, becomes crucial, necessitating a deep understanding of the ever-changing research dynamics.
Mid-career researchers (MCRs) face unique challenges within the academia and often lack the support afforded to early-career or senior researchers. Transition hurdles for MCRs include inadequate institutional support, limited mentorship opportunities, restricted access to funding, and shifts in academic culture. Addressing these challenges require institutional commitment to provide support, mentorship programs, funding opportunities, and fostering cultural shifts within academic. Mentorship programs and support networks can play a vital role in assisting MCRs navigate these obstacles, enabling them to continue contributing meaningfully to their fields and fostering a robust research community.
Developing future research leaders in the Global South and developing countries is crucial for enhancing universities’ competitiveness and driving excellence in research, teaching, and innovation. Understanding the career trajectories of MCRs and implementing effective professional development programs is essential to ensure their success, fostering thriving research communities, and contributing to societal progress. By addressing these challenges and fostering leadership and support structures, HEIs can better equip MCRs to navigate the complexities of academic and make meaningful contributions to fields and societies.
Intended Participants
- Mid-career researchers, encompassing individuals with 10 to 20 years of service or aged 40 to 50
- Holding administrative roles such as heads of departments or equivalent positions within HEIs in the Global South and developing countries
- Only 25 participants will be selected for this program
Program Objectives
The program aims to empower mid-career researchers with the skills, support, and opportunities necessary to navigate this crucial stage in their careers effectively and make meaningful contributions to their fields. This will be achieved by:
- Equipping mid-career researchers with comprehensive leadership skills
This includes honing effective communication, mastering project management, and strategic planning, ensuring participants are adept leaders in their fields while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. - Instilling ethical research leadership
Emphasizing integrity and responsible practices through all research endeavors, fostering a commitment to ethical conduct in research leadership roles, and promoting the importance of maintaining work-life balance to sustain long-term success and well-being. - Promoting collaboration and societal impact
Encouraging active engagement with research communities and broader society, facilitating interdisciplinary cooperation to promote collaboration and maximize societal impact through research endeavors while prioritizing personal well-being and work-life balance.
Program Outcomes
Participants will be working on an individual and group reform project, which will be developed in between the contact phases (Part 1 to Part 3 of the training-workshop) at the participants’ respective home institutions.
These outcomes aim to empower the participants to navigate their career transitions effectively, emerge as effective research leaders, and make meaningful contributions to their fields and institutions:
- Increased proficiency in leadership skills among mid-career researchers, including communication, project management, and strategic planning;
- Heightened awareness and adherence to ethical standards and responsible practices in research leadership roles;
- Enhanced ability to engage with research communities and foster collaborative partnerships for societal impact; and
- Development of action plans for implementing learned skills and strategies in their research roles.
Program Design and Important Dates
The RTL for Mid-Career Researchers Workshop will be delivered in hybrid modality from January to May 2025. The first month will feature a synchronous online learning session, where they will be introduced to the spirit of the RTL program and what the target action plan (TAP) is all about. Participants will then convene at the SEARCA headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines for the second part of the program and the first face-to-face sessions in January 2025. They will then be expected to apply their learnings through individual and group assignments, which will form the basis for their TAPs. The third part of the program is another face-to-face session at ISTIC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May 2025. By this time, participants are expected to be able to present their TAPs and share best practices to sustain change after their TAP implementation.
The selected participants should be able to commit to attending all sessions (online and onsite).
Program Fees
| USD 1,700 – regular rate for citizens of non-SEAMEO member countries* |
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| USD 1,173 – subsidized rate for government employees of any SEAMEO member country |
* SEAMEO member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam
Contact Us
Interested in partnering or participating in this training? Please contact Dr. Nova Ramos, Head, Education and Collective Learning Department-Training for Development Unit (ECLD-T4DU):
