From ideas to outcomes: learning from research collaboration with African partner universities CRI Teaching through Research workshop Elina Lehtomäki 24 March 2014 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi First ideas of three people in three different projects: Consultancy: education development in Tanzania UNESCO Capacity Building in Africa 24 March 2014 Bilateral cooperation: Ministry of Education, Ethiopia elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi Exclusion Dropout What do we know? What do we not know? How could we know better? Previous research and critique on education development in sub-Saharan Africa Increased access to primary education but: - shortage of qualitified teachers high dropouts rates out-of-school children inadequate quality and poor relevance of learning inequality in advancement top-down policy processes and leadership weak connections between school and wider society WHAT DO THE STUDENTS SAY? 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi Educated Girls and Women in Tanzania: Socio-cultural Interpretations on the Meaning of Education A multidisciplinary research project explores achievements and challenges of educational equity policies, processes and practices in Tanzania. The focus is on socio-cultural interpretations of the meaning of education for girls and women, including girls and women with disabilities. The studies analyze experience and perceptions of girls and women, who, against odds, have succeeded to continue their educational path up to secondary and higher education, on the meaning of education in their lives and factors contributing to advancement. From sharing ideas to research 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi Outputs: three doctoral dissertations Hanna Posti-Ahokas: Female Students’ Perspectives of Relevance of Secondary Education in Tanzania – A critical social explanation Magreth Matonya: Accessibility of Higher Learning in Tanzania, Experiences of Women with Disabilities 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi Lehtomäki & Hukkanen (forthcoming): Tanzanian girls and women with [dis]abilities claiming their right to education Learning (and teaching) through research collaboration Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue: – Working conditions: access to research literature, library services, funding of field work, advisors – Leadership and administration: high vs. low authority, top-down vs. collaborative – Knowledge: local context and global picture, research approaches, methods and culturally, socially appropriate applications and innovations Shared views, diverse approaches, long-term collaboration and new partnerships 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi What about outcomes? 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi New projects and collaboration Culturally responsive teacher education (Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Finland) African-Finnish Network for Inclusive Teacher Education (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Finland) From Disability to Capability Influencing programmes of intergovernmental and international organisations, e.g. UN inclusive education in post-2015 Millennium Development Goals 24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi Global Connectedness: Student Voices on the Value of Cross-cultural Learning Dialogue Lehtomäki, E., Posti-Ahokas, H., Moate, J. ECER Network 20: Research in innovative intercultural learning environments Contribution of qualitative education research to future European – African cooperation Lehtomäki, E., Posti-Ahokas, H., Okkolin, M.A., Matonya, M., Bhalalusesa, E.