Past events

UniPID's annual seminar 2024: Strengthening Agency in the Pluriverse of the Academic Worlds

On 5 November, UniPID hosted its annual seminar in the framework of the Sustainability and Responsibility Annual Seminar of the Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities (UNIFI). The seminar focused on plurality, agency, and diverse worldviews in Finnish academia and global research. Highlighting the dominance of Global North paradigms, the event emphasized integrating diverse knowledge and values into academic collaborations.Through a panel discussion and interactive reflections, participants explored actionable strategies and tools to foster agency, overcome power imbalances, and operationalize equity and pluralism.

More information of the event here!

UniPID & EADI Event: Online Workshop: Co-Creating Preconditions for Inclusive and Equitable Funding

On June 11, 2024, UniPID and EADI co-hosted an online workshop to address inclusivity and equity in funding for North-South academic collaborations in the framework of the KFPE annual workshop series 2023. The event examined the funding cycle in three stages—before, during, and after—to identify ways funding agencies and researchers can collaborate for more effective and impactful support mechanisms. Participants co-created recommendations for inclusive and equitable partnerships, support mechanisms during funding, and effective post-funding practices, paving the way for collaborative frameworks between funders and researchers.

Workshop Highlights:

  • Pre-Funding: Strategies for fostering inclusive partnerships, addressing equity, diversity, and capacity building among applicants.
  • During Funding: Support mechanisms such as mentorship, technical assistance, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability.
  • Post-Funding: Feedback loops, impact assessments, and knowledge-sharing practices to maximize project outcomes.

Read more about the event here!

UniPID & SAFINET Event: Virtual Learning in Global Academic Collaborations

On May 20, 2024, UniPID and SAFINET hosted a seminar and workshop in Tampere to explore virtual learning's role in strengthening global academic collaborations, particularly between Finnish and Southern African institutions.

The seminar featured:

  • Dr. Lavern Samuels introducing Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as a tool for building international partnerships.
  • Dr. Phakama Ntshongwana addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in virtual education.
  • UniPID sharing its experiences in advancing virtual education practices.

The workshop focused on practical challenges and needs for implementing virtual studies in global collaborations, emphasizing solutions to enhance equity and effectiveness in virtual learning.

Read more about the event here!

UniPID at the Spring Forum 2024: Networks in the search of sustainable and responsible internationalisation

UniPID hosted a roundtable to explore how higher education institutions (HEIs) and networks can respond to megatrends, such as the green and digital transitions, while fostering sustainable and responsible internationalization. The discussion focused on the role of networks in navigating changing political priorities, sustaining activities during disruptions, and ensuring long-term impact. With the Ministry of Education and Culture’s strategic funding for eight global networks ending in 2025, the session reflected on lessons learned, mechanisms for continuity, and strategies to sustain and evolve these networks beyond their initial purpose. The roundtable emphasized the importance of strategic, transformative, and comparative approaches to ensure the longevity and relevance of international collaborations in an evolving global landscape.

Read a summary of the event here!

UniPID at the Forest Policy Meeting 2024

UniPID hosted a DocShop in the framework of the Forest Policy Meeting 2024 focused on decolonising research practices. The session addressed the ethical, methodological, and practical dimensions of conducting research in a way that challenges colonial legacies and power imbalances. The DocShop provided researchers with actionable insights and tools to foster more inclusive and equitable research practices, promoting meaningful partnerships with a focus on mutual learning and shared impact.

Session Highlights:

  • Discussions on how researchers can incorporate decolonial approaches into their work, emphasizing equity, local agency, and respect for diverse epistemologies.
  • Practical tools and strategies to identify and address colonial assumptions in research methodologies and partnerships.
  • Case studies and experiences shared by participants to illustrate successes and challenges in decolonising academic practices.

Read more about the event here!

UniPID at the Development Days Conference 2024

UniPID hosted the annual DocShop at the Development Days Conference on how to make an impact: research based policy making. The event dived into discussing strategies for making a tangible impact in global academic collaborations. The session provided participants with practical advice on how to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of their research projects and partnerships. Participants left with actionable insights into creating and measuring meaningful impact in their academic collaborations, alongside practical tools for communicating their work's value to a wider audience, ensuring it leads to lasting positive change.

Highlights:

  • Exploration of impact strategies, including how to measure and communicate the outcomes of research collaborations.
  • Discussions on fostering long-term relationships with stakeholders, ensuring the relevance and sustainability of research findings.
  • Interactive exercises on aligning research goals with societal needs and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Read more about the event here!

UniPID's annual seminar 2023: From words to action: Laying foundations for responsible academic partnerships with the Global South

On 25 October 2023, UniPID launched the Ethical Guidelines for Responsible Academic Partnerships with the Global South. The event was organized in collaboration with the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity and consisted of a keynote by Liisa Laakso, chair of the international steering group for the ethical guidelines development; a presentation of the ethical guidelines document done by the UniPID task force; an expert commentary by Tiina Vihma-Purovaara, senior ministerial adviser at the Ministry of Education and Culture of Finland; and a panel discussion on mainstreaming and embedding ethical guidelines in everyday practices.

More information of the event here!

UniPID & EADI event: Workshop: Ethical Practices in Global Academic Collaborations

At the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI) Conference 2023, UniPID and EADI co-hosted a workshop focused on fostering ethical practices in global academic collaborations. The session aimed to provide participants with practical tools to navigate ethical challenges in North-South partnerships and emphasized the importance of transparency, equity, and mutual respect. Participants engaged in collaborative discussions to develop actionable strategies for integrating ethical frameworks into global academic partnerships. The workshop generated practical recommendations for researchers and institutions to foster fair, sustainable, and impactful collaborations.

Highlights:

  • Exploration of ethical challenges and opportunities in global research collaborations, including power imbalances, resource inequalities, and epistemic diversity.
  • Interactive discussions on how to apply ethical guidelines in academic partnerships, with a focus on operationalizing equity and inclusivity.
  • Insights from diverse stakeholders on ethical research processes, drawing on UniPID's Ethical Guidelines for Global Academic Collaborations.

Read more about the event here!

UniPID at the Spring Forum 2023:

UniPID contributed to the Spring Forum (Kevät Päivät) with two sessions:

  • Funding Pathways for Equitable Science Collaborations: This roundtable explored how research funding agencies can better support North-South collaborations. Participants examined the role of funding mechanisms in promoting equity and responsibility, addressing challenges faced by researchers, and balancing stability with adaptability in funding frameworks. Discussions highlighted the need for feedback-driven improvements in funding schemes to enhance global cooperation and equity in partnerships.
  • Hosting Scholars in Finland: Insights from UniPID’s Discussion Paper: This session focused on UniPID’s newly developed discussion paper outlining best practices for hosting scholars in Finland, particularly those in vulnerable situations. The paper emphasized the importance of fostering inclusive academic environments that prioritize mutual trust, respect, and long-term collaboration. Participants discussed practical strategies for supporting scholars’ integration, addressing systemic barriers, and promoting sustainability in hosting initiatives. Read more about the event here!

Both sessions emphasized the significance of creating spaces for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and policy shaping to advance responsible global academic partnerships. Insights from these discussions contribute to ongoing efforts to enhance equity, sustainability, and collaboration in international higher education. The DocShop provided valuable insights and concrete strategies for researchers to decolonise their practices, creating more equitable, ethical, and mutually beneficial collaborations between Global North and South researchers.

UniPID at the Development Days Conference 2023

UniPID hosted the annual DocShop for DocNET members and interested parties in the framework of the Development Days Conference 2023. The event focused on crafting successful research proposals for global academic collaborations. The session provided practical guidance and insights into the proposal-writing process, emphasizing best practices for designing impactful, ethical, and well-structured research projects. The DocShop equipped participants with essential tools and strategies to improve their research proposal-writing skills, ensuring their projects are well-aligned with funding agency requirements and have a strong ethical and practical foundation.

Highlights:

  • Interactive discussions on the key elements of a strong research proposal, including objectives, methodology, budget, and expected outcomes.
  • Tips on addressing ethical considerations and ensuring inclusivity in research proposals, especially in North-South collaborations.
  • A hands-on approach where participants reviewed and discussed sample proposals to identify common pitfalls and successful strategies.

Read more about the event here!

UniPID's 20th Anniversary event: Towards an inclusive and equitable global academic landscape

On 2 December 2022, UniPID celebrated its 20th anniversary with a seminar and a cocktail event. Since its establishment, UniPID has highlighted the value and role of global academic partnerships in finding solutions for grand challenges and supporting sustainable development pathways. Throughout the years, UniPID has served as an avenue for bringing global responsibility and Global South perspectives into Finnish higher education institutions’ education, research, and societal impact activities. By promoting collaboration between the global science community as well as between researchers and policy makers, UniPID has fostered the co-creation of glocally relevant knowledge as well as research-informed decision making in higher education policy, science policy and development policy. The anniversary event will celebrate global academic partnerships as an impactful tool for finding solutions for global challenges.

Read more about the event here!

UniPID & GINTL stakeholder event: Partnership dialogues: Identifying elements for good partnerships

On May 19 2022, UniPID and the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL) Africa Network organized a stakeholder workshop which aimed to increase global academic cooperation and integrate Global South voices and perspectives into the work of the Finnish higher education institutions (HEIs). Strong collaborative, participative ties, and understanding of the local contexts, in which Finland also aims in the national policy papers (e.g. Finland’s Africa Strategy), are crucial for addressing the global, yet locally bound, phenomenon, such as global education crisis. This stakeholder event brought together academics from Finnish and African HEIs with other stakeholders to discuss current challenges and priorities in partnerships.

Read more about the event here.

UniPID in the Development Days Conference 2022

UniPID contributed to the Development Days 2022: Infrastructures, technologies and vulnerabilities in global development, organized by the Finnish Society for Development Research (FSDR), with four events:

  • Roundtable and workshop on "Infrastructures of research: Towards equitable and responsible North-South collaborations".
  • DocShop: The Arts of Academic Publishing
  • Master's Workshop: A Thesis Boost
  • Master's Award 2021 Ceremony

Read more about the event here.

UniPID Webinar 2021: How to foster responsible and fair global academic partnerships: concepts, good practices, and tools for building collaboration

UniPID Webinar was held on 16 December, 2021. The event aimed to provide participants with a framework for understanding what building more equitable global partnerships can look like in an academic context, as well as practical tools for undertaking this within their own partnerships to create more responsible and sustainable academic collaboration. Read more about the event here.

CILAC 2021 Side-event: From research-based knowledge to sustainable societies - How to best advance researchers’ cooperation with decision makers, private sector and civil society?

UniPID and the Team Finland Knowledge network for Latin America co-organized a webinar titled "From research-based knowledge to sustainable societies - How to best advance researchers’ cooperation with decision makers, private sector and civil society?" on 27 April, 2021. The panel discussion was a side-event of the CILAC 2021 Conference and a part of the programme of Finland's Year of Research-based Knowledge.