1. Dr Fran Martin University of Exeter June 21st 2012
Global Partnerships as Sites for Mutual Learning Overview of research and theoretical perspectives
Dr Fran Martin
University of Exeter
June 21st 2012

2. Research Questions
“What impact do two North-South study visits have on teachers’ understanding of development issues and how does this inform their understanding of, and practice in, global partnerships?”
How have two global partnerships developed and what context do they provide for educational study visits?
What do teachers from both North and South learn about development and global issues from their involvement in study visits?
What are the key factors that prompt any changes in knowledges and beliefs?
How does this learning inform their practice over time?

3. Participants in study
Goodwill
Children’s
Homes

4. Research methodology Participatory, collaborative approach
Intercultural learning approach
Research process as transformative learning
Ethnography
Culturally appropriate & sensitive research methods
In-depth, semi-structures interviews / conversations
Research diaries: personal learning and research team processes
Research team roles

5. Research Phases UK The Gambia India Phase 1 Research Q 1 Fran
Lamin & Fran
Raja & Fran
Phase 2
Research Q 2, 3
Helen
Lamin
Raja
Phase 3
Research Q 4
Lynne, Helen & Fran
Lamin & Fran
Raja & Fran

6. Research processes University of Exeter Gandhigram Rural University
University of The Gambia
Mutual
Intercultural
Transformative

8. Theoretical Perspectives
Postcolonial theory: there is a colonial history between UK-Gambia, UK-India; this is the context within which intercultural learning through study visits is taking place
Transformative learning theory: a theory of adult learning particularly pertinent when some unlearning of habits of mind is needed before new learning and creating new habits of mind can begin
Socio-cultural learning, displacement spaces, positioning theory, experiential learning

9. Theoretical Perspectives
Neo-liberalism
Theories of intercultural communication, intercultural competence
Ways of knowing and being in the world that act as different logics

10. Parameters for the study
The research is not
A comparative study
An evaluation
A piece of scientific research in which we set out to ‘prove’ something
The research is
Underpinned by ethics
Subjective and objective
Aiming to shed light on something, to understand it better
Working with interested parties to gain insight into how findings relate to policy and practice in a range of contexts

11. Dr Lamin Sidibeh
Dr Lingam Raja