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Brokering the Knowledge Brokers: Are regional hubs the way forward?

Sat, March 22, 1:15 to 2:30pm, Palmer House, Floor: 3rd Floor, Crystal Room

Group Submission Type: Refereed Roundtable Session

Proposal

Education systems worldwide face many challenges, most influenced by shifting global dynamics and the impact of external factors such as climate change, conflict, digital transformation, health crises, or economic volatility. Lower and middle-income countries (LMICs) are particularly affected, as, in addition to limited resources, education systems often deal with prevailing disparities in access, quality, and educational outcomes (UN, 2023; GPE, 2024).

In recent years, the use of data and research – to understand what works and in which contexts - has gained increased attention as a catalyst for better education policy and practice outcomes in LMICs. However, this link is not easy to attain (Cairney, 2015; Mackillop et al., 2019). A recent study (Steiner Khamsi et al., 2024) points out two broken feedback loops: (a) between researchers and policymakers and (b) between global and local levels. It is in this space that diverse knowledge brokers have emerged as key players to ‘increase connection across education systems, facilitating collaboration and dialogue among diverse stakeholders and increasing awareness of the use of evidence at all levels’ (Cooper et al., 2020).

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) four regional hubs – Africa 19, comprising 19 countries in East, Southern and West Africa; Africa 21, comprising 21 countries in West, Central Africa and Indian Ocean; EMAP, comprising 36 countries in Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Asia and Pacific regions, and; LAC, comprising 10 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean – act as knowledge brokers, linking education system stakeholders and providing them with opportunities to produce and use research evidence for education system transformation. Under the leadership of Canada’s International Development Research Center, KIX Hubs are designed to be demand-driven and adaptive to existing policy systems and practices in GPE partner countries. A strong emphasis is placed on the surfacing of national expertise and promoting contextually relevant research evidence.

The roundtable will explore how the KIX regional hubs are generating new insights into learning about bridging education research, policy, and practice. The roundtable will begin with an introduction from the Chair and an overview of the KIX initiative. Speakers will present concrete examples of KIX's contribution to fostering a knowledge ecosystem that strengthens southern capacities. A link to the conference's main theme will also be explored to reveal how the regional Hubs are addressing digital transformation.

Each Hub will choose two representatives for the roundtable discussion - a representative from the Hub management team and an expert from the Global South working on educational reform – who will ground the discussion in concrete examples of the work and achieved outcomes. The following questions will guide the discussion:

1. From the experience of working with GPE partner countries, what bolsters and hinders the use of research evidence? Give examples of the KIX's concrete contribution in this regard.

2. For impact, KIX the practice (of exchanging knowledge and innovation) must outlive KIX the project. What are some of the practices that countries have developed as a result of KIX the project, that they can see themselves continuing with or without KIX the project?

3. Technology at the right level is a challenge for all education systems. From each hub’s experience as a knowledge broker, what are some of the strategies that partner countries could adopt?

While knowledge brokers in education often operate in a rather opaque environment (Malin et al., 2018; Rycroft-Smith, 2022), this roundtable invites an open reflection on the role of KIX regional hubs and what can be learnt to contribute to the broader collective engagement to strengthen a culture of evidence use - both within and beyond KIX.

Sub Unit

Organizer

Chair

Individual Presentations