Diaspora linkages benefit both sides: a single partnership experience

ABSTRACT

The emigration of physicians and scientists from resource-constrained countries decreases the country’s ability to undertake research. Re-establishing research environments and increasing capacity reduced by these losses are important, particularly in the health sciences. One mechanism for re-establishing strong health sciences research is the introduction of an Alumni Diaspora Fellowship Programme. We define the beneficial effects of a successful single partnership in an Alumni Diaspora Programme. This Host/Alumnus collaboration demonstrates that bi-directional advantages have accrued for both the Host Institution situated in a resource-constrained country and the Alumni’s Institution, located in a high-income country. In addition to expanding research in the resource-constrained country, collaborations expanded to other faculty beyond the Alumnus in the sending Institution, in multiple fields including those not readily available in the high-income country (HIV, TB, malaria). The environment at the host Institution in the resource-constrained country has been enriched by increased research publications, training of young scholars (over 200 trained in manuscript and grant application writing), and substantial advances in biomedical informatics. There has been considerable knowledge exchange and development between both Institutions, showing that ‘brain circulation’ and Diaspora Programmes are valuable strategies for expanding research.

KEYWORDS:

• Alumni
• diaspora
• health research
• capacity development
• resource constrained countries

Responsible Editor

Stig Wall, Umeå University, Sweden

Responsible Editor

Stig Wall, Umeå University, Sweden

Acknowledgments

The Carnegie Corporation of New York and Ms Claiudia Frittelli, Program Officer of the International Program for support (grant number G-16-54043). Deans Professor Helen Laburn and Professor Ahmed Wadee, and Professor Karen Hoffman, School of Public Health, Wits Faculty of Health Sciences for supporting the Wits Assistant Dean for Research and Postgraduate Support (BK) in initiating the program. The Wits administrators of the Carnegie-Wits Diaspora Alumni Program, and the Wits REDCap program administrator, Mrs Irma Mare are acknowledged for assistance. The Wits Department of Surgery Miller Fellowship for financial support for training of a fellow in medical informatics.

Author contributions

Both authors contributed equally to the article.

Disclosure statement

As Assistant Dean: Research and Postgraduate Support, BK was a founding Director of the Wits Diaspora Alumni Program. Post-retirement, BK received remuneration from the Carnegie Corporation of New York (grant number G-16-54043) to continue her work with the Program. RZ was granted a Fellowship as part of the Program.

Ethics and consent

A human ethics waiver (W-CBP-190222-01) was granted by the Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical), University of the Witwatersrand.

Paper context

The manuscript describes the research and capacity development benefits accrued to two health sciences institutions, one in a high-income country and the other in a resource-constrained country through a collaboration which utilizes Diaspora Alumni linkages. The Diaspora linkage program which was initiated between the two institutions in 2010 has resulted in research skills development and expansion of research areas for both institutions. Knowledge exchange and development will contribute towards building the next generation of African Health Scientists.

Additional information

Funding

A grant (G-16-54043) from the Carnegie Corporation of New York is acknowledged for funding the Carnegie-Wits Alumni Diaspora Program and for remuneration of BK post-retirement. RZ is funded by R01DK069921 from the National Institutes of Health and VAI01BX002198 from the Department of Veterans Affairs.