Such a community of practice is now coming into being, through collaborative work undertaken by partner institutions of Sumernet, and through a diversity of efforts by individuals and agencies working in the region. Given that ‘knowledge’ is constructed by actors individually and collectively striving to make sense of new information within the frameworks of existing perspectives, Sumernet’s contribution is specifically to support Mekong researchers and research institutions in this process.
Sumernet’s focus is on domestic research institutions that are forging an independent path of intellectual inquiry, capable of feeding into policy making processes in their own countries.
Sumernet is helping to establish standards for independent research in the region, through training courses and research collaboration on areas of key importance to Mekong development. Many researchers and academics who trained in domestic universities have taken the opportunity to strengthen their writing abilities and research skills through training courses held over the past four years, including courses on science communications, proposal writing and fund raising. Senior researchers within the network have also provided coaching and mentoring support to others.
Sumernet is also playing a role in promoting and integrating indigenous views of sustainable development in the Mekong region, infusing development discussions with fresh perspectives from younger academics and disseminating them among those working on similar themes both domestically, regionally and internationally.
