Dependency and neocolonialism in international research collaboration. Evidence from a Ghanaian elite university.

Autor/inn/en	Nkansah, Jakob Oppong; Oldac, Yusuf Ikbal; Yang, Lili
Titel	Dependency and neocolonialism in international research collaboration. Evidence from a Ghanaian elite university.
Quelle	In: Higher education, 90 (2025) 6, S. 1571-1589Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Link als defekt meldenVerfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	online; gedruckt; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0018-1560; 1573-174X
DOI	10.1007/s10734-024-01393-w
Schlagwörter	Lehre; Studium; Hochschule; Student; Ausland; Ghana
Abstract	Scientific collaboration between the Global North and South has expanded significantly over the last three decades. However, this expansion has yet to bring about equal international research collaborations (IRC) for all collaborating sides. Through a case study of a Ghanaian elite university, this study examines how these inequalities manifest in the IRC of Ghanaian higher education researchers, building on the theoretical lenses of neocolonialism and academic dependency. It collected data from the university's researchers and administrators and national policymakers through in-depth interviews. Ghanaian higher education system is uniquely located in West Africa as one of the few English-speaking colonised countries. Its growing involvement in global research makes it an interesting case to explore the manifestations of neocolonialism and dependency in IRC. The findings suggest how colonial structures continue to play out in the IRC dynamics. Findings also reveal how academic dependency resulting from external and internal factors impacts IRC in the context of Ghana and how such dependency has reflected and moved beyond colonial legacies. We propose that collaborative and targeted policies should aim for a gradual road towards breaking the dependency, where the Global North is positioned to have the upper hand. A more equally grounded research collaboration is important for Ghanaian and overall African higher education. (HRK / Abstract übernommen).
Erfasst von	Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, Bonn
Update	2026/4