Technology and collaboration in water resources management: A case study in Honduras, and lessons learn to promote regional consortia

• In Event: Higher education dynamics in digital(ized) societies: Quality, research and networked collaboration

Proposal

Higher education institutions (HEIs) occupy a pivotal position in our society. These institutions can contribute to education, research, and innovation by the nature of their functions but also relate to the community and various public stakeholders through their campuses. In that sense, HEIs are fundamental contributors to promoting the 2030 Agenda. Still, according to McCowan (2023), lack of resources, increased competition, commoditization, connection with the labor market, and sometimes lack of creativity are some of the manifestations of limitations that HEIs face and prevent them from moving towards much more collaborative and impactful spaces.

In the digital era, technology has become a fundamental tool; however, its use has introduced new opportunities and challenges. Given the ubiquitous use of information and communication technologies, ensuring the quality of the process becomes imperative, which seeks not only to improve the teaching and learning process but also the quality of the interactions among university and community stakeholders. This presentation provides lessons from the first steps in articulating the Network for the Management and Promotion of Water Resources Research in Honduras as a pilot plan to replicate this practice at the regional level.

The HydroBID Support Center (CeSH) promotes the Network for the Management and Promotion of Water Resources Research initiative. Sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), CeSH provides hydrological modeling tools for the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region to support the institutional strengthening of agencies at the national and sub-national levels and facilitate decision-making on water availability.

The presentation reveals that despite HEIs' positive reception of promoting collaboration, tensions are observed regarding intellectual property and competition for funding. Technology is a resource that enables communication and learning among the various stakeholders involved, which could reshape research and collaboration practices in the field of water resources in Honduras and potentially in the LAC region. At the same time, technology-mediated interactions introduce challenges for communication and cooperation among network members.

This case study contributes to the broader understanding of how digital technologies reshape higher education and research globally. It highlights the importance of considering local and regional contexts in implementing technological solutions for research collaboration. It also highlights the need to rethink quality metrics and competition models in an increasingly digitized and globalized academic landscape.

Author

• Eglis Sofía Chacon, Center for International Higher Education at Boston College