DRAFT 24 SEPTEMBER 2004
(Dr Jack Whitehead & Dr. Ram Punia)
Action research is a new form of research in the UK, which aims to improve practice and practitioners on-the-job. Action research has the potential to improve practice and the practitioners in collaborative cultures amongst academics and practitioners. Furthermore, it has the potential to solve local problems and to create appropriate local knowledge for practice. Dr Whitehead is one of the pioneers of this form of action research at the University of Bath.
Dr Whitehead is actively involved in promoting action research at home and overseas. Recently he has been receiving e-mail messages from developing countries for assistance towards fully understanding action research and to overcome the initial resistance towards this kind of research from the practitioners and the academics alike.
Dr Ram Punia obtained his doctorate using this form of action research as an international consultant. He is interested in promoting action research as a new strategy for international aid aimed at providing technical aid, personal development and international understanding through aid projects. He is familiar with the local context, as he had worked as a consultant for five years at IVTB and the MIPAM in Mauritius.
The Planned Aim
The main purpose of this seven-day visit to Mauritius is to promote action research amongst practitioners, academics and the aid agencies through personal contacts in Mauritius and to explore the problem of initial resistance towards action research in developing countries. The trip aims to
1. Establish initial contact with the local stakeholders.
2. Present action research as a research methodology to improve practice, practitioners and international understanding.
3. Establish a support system from the University of Bath for the further development of action research overseas.
The Anticipated Outcomes
1. Better professional understanding of initial resistance towards action research.
2. Establishment of an initial contact with Mauritius to provide a support system from the University of Bath.
The
Planned Activities and Duration
1. Meet the local prominent stakeholders individually (two days).
2. Present action research to improve theory, practice and practitioner as an integrated strategy to teachers and the managers (two days)
3. Explore positive and negative influences on the use of this form of strategy (one day) and develop a strategy to overcome the problem (one day)
4. Report writing and feed back to stakeholders (2 days).
Venue and Local Support
This trip might be organised through the British Council located in Mauritius.
Cost
The anticipated cost of the trip is £5000. It will include travel costs, hotel transport and meals at £2000 each person. Dr Punia is to be remunerated £1000.00 for his services.
Future Possibilities
The future trips may include one-week seminars on action research to train the local counterparts and to establish long-term relationship between the local institutions and the University of Bath. Based on the success of this initial venture similar trips might be planned for India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Fiji and Western Samoa. Dr Punia has worked as an international educator in these countries in the past.
RSP/JAW