UNESCO Platform on Strengthening National Research Systems - Methodology and Objectives
The Platform aims at strengthening the contribution that research and science can play in social and economic development.
The Platform will further develop the methodology of country reviews and strategic planning for research on the basis of existing models that have proven their value. These models include the template that was used in the Forum on Higher Education, Research and Knowledge, the Country Reviews in Science and the model that was used by the OECD in recent reviews in western countries.
Countries, specifically developing countries whose research capacities are needing improvement, can propose themselves for a UNESCO review. This can be in the context of addressing the Millenium Development Goals or other government priority.
Objectives:
The objectives of the first years of the platform are:
To achieve a common methodology, on the basis of a UNESCO integrated approach to review national research systems in developing countries;
To implement several actual country reviews that cover higher education and research in the natural sciences as well as in the social and human sciences, taking into account the increased need for research-policy linkages, ethics of science, brain drain issues and the impact of science and research on development.
Outcomes:
The actual results in terms of change and improvement of national research systems will be as follows:
Participating Member States will get a realistic review of their national scientific research capacities, covering natural as well as social and human sciences;
Policy-making in improving their national research system can benefit from experiences in other countries on the basis of well documented best practices;
As a result of each country review, participating Member States will be able to build their capacity on the basis of a well structured strategy.