Bridging Knowledge Cultures: Rebalancing Power in the Co-Construction of Knowledge

Establishing truly respectful, mutually beneficial, and equitable knowledge creation partnerships with diverse communities poses significant challenges for academia. Bridging Knowledge Cultures provides valuable insights into the dynamics involved and the obstacles encountered when attempting to establish meaningful research partnerships between different knowledge domains. This book goes beyond exploration by offering practical recommendations to overcome these challenges and forge effective collaboration between mainstream research institutions and community groups and organizations.
This book includes ten compelling case studies conducted by research and training hubs established through the global Knowledge for Change Consortium. These case studies encompass community-university research partnerships across various geographical locations, tackling a wide range of societal issues and acknowledging the wealth of knowledge created by local communities.
The overarching goal of this book is to inspire the next generation of researchers and professionals to embrace the richness of diverse perspectives and knowledge cultures. By advocating for the construction of "bridges" through practical approaches, the book encourages a shift from competition to collaboration in research. Ultimately, it aims to foster an environment where different forms of knowledge can intersect and thrive, leading to a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of the world around us.

Walter Lepore, Ph.D. (2018), University of Victoria, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Administration at that university. Dr. Lepore has an extensive publication record on a wide range of topics within the fields of decision making in the public sector, community engagement, and community-university research partnerships.

Budd L. Hall, Ph.D. Officer, Order of Canada, Co-Chair, UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education. A founder of the participatory research movement, former Secretary-General of the International Council for Adult Education, Dean of Education at the University of Victoria, he has over 500 publications.

Rajesh Tandon, Ph.D (1978), Founder-President, PRIA, India & UNESCO Co-Chair Community-Based Research & Social Responsibility in Higher Education, former Chair of CIVICUS, former President of ASPBAE, Expert UGC India. Rajesh has trained more than 1000 activist researchers, and has more than 200 publications on civil society, democratic governance and participatory research.