System for Collaborative Research (copied from word document - requires re-formatting)
Peru [i] WITH [ii] English and French language researchers / countries
The purpose of the meeting [iii] is to discuss details of the proposed generic system for joint or collaborative research, between researchers in Peru and countries/ individual researchers using English or French languages [iv].
Background[]
The SCR (System for Collaborative Research) came out of the joint meeting between the All Party Parliamentary Group for Peru [v] (APPG-Peru) and the Peru Earthquake Aid Committee (16/10/07) which proposed the Bridgebuilder project to bring Peruvian [vi] and other specialists in the UK/ Europe into better contact [vii] with their Peruvian counterparts. The aims of the project had the support of the Chair of the APPG for Peru and the Peruvian Ambassador in London. The SCR is not intended to replace existing or proposed bilateral and multilateral research projects, although its “platform” may be of interest and use to them, but to open up the potential of collaborative research to all researchers. [viii]
SESSION 1 The overall system[]
Components
1.Collaborative Research Review and database -- Enables researchers to write together and share knowledge [ix] even though they are located in different countries and without setting up a new project. Works like the current Opentext Journal of Peruvian Studies.
2.Research partner software --Enables researchers to search for counterparts (research partners, supervisors, directors, assistants) in other zones /countries.
' 3.'Mediators --Subject specialists would “guard” the authenticity and quality of pages in their chosen academic areas [x].
4.Meetings and conferences --In addition to the virtual research system in points 1-3 above the SCR would encourage real meetings and conferences, at least once every two years in the case of the longer term projects.
5.Online tools and virtual-labs --A collaborative software development programme would aim for each subject, discipline, field, knowledge cluster, and methodology to have a palette (jointly improve-able) of online tools and “virtual laboratories”.
6.Diaspora knowledge networks --The SCR (Peru) would support /integrate into the proposed UNESCO diaspora knowledge networks (DKN) project /research programme.
' 7.'The Lead Group --It is proposed that a small lead-group of Peruvian research universities and research institutions would carry the project forward in collaboration with relevant organizations in the participating countries [xi].
8.The academic advisory boards (AAB) --The lead-group would work with the AAB and subject / knowledge cluster specialists and mediators to maintain quality and extend the coverage of the system.
SESSION 2 Detailed arrangements, subject areas [xii], fields, knowledge clusters.[]
It is proposed that the initial subject areas include fields from:
'1. 'Subject area / knowledge cluster: sciences
'2. 'Subject area / knowledge cluster: humanities
'3. 'Subject area / knowledge cluster: social sciences
'4. 'Subject area / knowledge cluster: business sciences
'5. 'Subject area / knowledge cluster: other knowledge domains
'2. 'The specific areas (knowledge clusters):
Geophysics: earthquake-related studies (the original purpose of the project)
Economic and social development: focusing on the current global crisis and effects on Peru
Peruvian History: emphasizing collaborative international history of interest to Peruvians globally
Meta-research. Research and development for the overall research system e.g. this document.
Other issues to be resolved:
Research grant recognition
Multiple subject areas
Role of traditional libraries
Programme of development
English and French language resources in Peru
Peruvian collections in Europe
Financial arrangements.For the administration of the system it is proposed that a research assistant (RA) be assigned to each “major cluster mediator”. The RA would receive a grant approved by the AAB and, it is proposed, funded by both public and private sector sources.
Notes.
[i] Spanish, Quechua Aymara, OIP (Other Peruvian languages).
[ii] But could also be used between researchers internally.
[iii] This document was drawn up as a draft agenda for a meeting in Lima of interested parties.
[iv] And could also be extended to other language areas.
[v] A grouping of Members of Parliament (Congresistas) and members of the House of Lords (Senadores) in the United Kingdom Parliament.
[vi] That is, members of the Peruvian diáspora.
[vii] To increase the volume and quality of collaborative research activity
[viii] Even at the initial levels of sub-doctorate dissertations.
[ix]Section foreach knowledge cluster (subject area or field). Based on the current Opentext Journal of Peruvian Studies. Pages are write-able by researchers in various countries (open text). Knowledge content would be, unless restricted, public domain and intellectual commons. Pages record precise text and graphics contribution of each researcher and the number of times their output is read online by other researchers.
[x]Subjects, fields or “knowledge clusters”. One problem with opentext editable pages is that of “graffiti” of sometimes perverse contributions.
[xi] For example in the UK the institutions with an interest in the SCR are listed in the consultative documents to be found on pages . . . of the Opentext Journal of Peruvian Studies.
[xii] For the pilot phase restricted to the listed projects but extendible to all subject areas, fields or clusters.