From ideas to outcomes: learning from

research collaboration with African partner universities

CRI Teaching through Research workshopElina Lehtomäki24 March 2014

elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi24 March 2014

ExclusionDropout

What do we know?What do we not

know?How could we know

better?

24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi

Consultancy: education

development in Tanzania

UNESCOCapacity

Building in Africa

Bilateral cooperation: Ministry of Education,

Ethiopia

First ideas of three people in three different projects:

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

societyWHAT 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 EducationA 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

24 March 2014 elina.k.lehtomaki@jyu.fi

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

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 collaborationCulturally responsive teacher education (Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Finland)African-Finnish Network for Inclusive Teacher Education (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Finland)From Disability to CapabilityInfluencing 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.