What We Do
Early Career Networking Visit to South Africa
Early Career Networking Visit to South Africa
Our network grew out of an AHRC funded networking grant, which was one of nine similar international projects funded. Supported by coordinator Dr Stephen Thompson from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, the recipients of the different networking grants have worked together to share knowledge and ideas. One of the most important outcomes has been a network of Early Career Researchers from the different networks who met regularly online and then, in October of 2024, in person in South Africa. From our network, the participants were Mileidis Mengana Cobas (originator of our work on inclusive parks) and Yasmani Martínez Padilla (Department of Work and Social Security and Lecturer at the local university centre in Bartolomé Masó).
Testimonials
The event held at the Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS), part of Stellenbosch University in South Africa, as part of the integration and collaboration between inclusive networks of people with disabilities, led to greater scope and new ways of conducting research. The strengths emerged from the diversity of experiences that were positioned from different contexts of participation and inclusion of people with disabilities and working groups. The meeting was an extraordinary opportunity for feedback among speakers, academics, young researchers, and all those involved in working with people with disabilities. Each of the topics focused on how to conduct research and generate more inclusive knowledge, how to apply coherent methodologies for interpreting meanings and realities, and how to manage data to link practice with scientific frameworks, among others. In short, we felt great satisfaction from the Cuban experience for the opportunity to have participated in such a prestigious gathering that fostered solidarity among countries, expanded knowledge, and strengthened our practices in working with people with disabilities. Additionally, in my particular case as an early-career researcher, this event opened doors for future collaborations with other researchers on topics related to labor and economic inclusion of people with disabilities.
From October 8 to 10, an academic seminar was held at the Institute for Advanced Studies (STIAS) at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Organized by the Institute of Development Studies in the United Kingdom as part of a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the event focused on fostering inclusive global networks for the sustainable development of people with disabilities. The in-person gathering complemented a series of online meetings that had been ongoing since early 2024, aiming to strengthen collaboration among networks and enhance research capabilities in the arts and humanities through a participatory program. The conference covered key topics such as ethics, accessible and inclusive participatory methods, interdisciplinary work, policy engagement, qualitative data analysis, critical thinking, and statistical systems for data interpretation. Researchers from various countries attended, including two young Cuban scholars, Mileidis Mengana Cobas and Yasmani Martínez Padilla, members of the “Take My Hand” network—a collaboration for equitable academic development between Cuba and the UK. The in-person workshop provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn, reflect, connect, and share insights with other early-career researchers. They also received guidance on improving their academic publications to conduct high-quality research in the arts and humanities for international scientific journals.