Developing Global Research Connections

PhD Clinic Series:How to Build International Research Collaborations! Over the years, I have seen how international research collaborations can transform a PhD scholar’s journey. Many of my own research experiences have been shaped by discussions, idea exchanges, and partnerships with experts across the globe. These collaborations not only strengthened the quality of work but also opened new academic and professional pathways that would have been difficult to access otherwise. For many PhD scholars, building international connections may feel intimidating. But in my experience, it is far more accessible than it appears. The global research community is open, supportive, and always willing to collaborate when they see genuine interest and clarity of purpose. Some of my strongest collaborations started with simple conversations, either over email, after a conference presentation, or even through discussions on research platforms. Here are a few practical strategies based on what I have personally experienced 1. Reach out to authors whose work inspires you-Many of my collaborations began by appreciating a researcher’s publication and expressing interest in exploring common research areas. Genuine curiosity often opens doors. 2. Attend and present at international conferences-I have found conferences to be powerful platforms not just for presenting work but for meaningful conversations that lead to long-term partnerships. 3. Stay active on academic platforms-Maintaining a visible and updated profile on Google Scholar, ORCID, ResearchGate, and LinkedIn has helped me connect with researchers who share similar interests. 4. Use your guide’s global network-Some of my earliest international introductions happened through my mentors. A single introduction can lead to years of collaborative work. 5. Start with small collaborative tasks-Joint literature reviews, survey papers, or shared datasets are often the starting points for larger projects. Many of my projects evolved exactly this way. International collaborations are not just about co-authoring papers. They help you think globally, understand diverse approaches, and elevate the quality and impact of your PhD work. These collaborations often go beyond research, turning into long-lasting academic relationships and friendships that shape your future path. Vidyalankar Alumni Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Mumbai Vidyalankar School of Information Technology ResearchGate AICTE University Grants Commission (UGC) Research Mentorship Network PhD Mentors Elsevier Researcher Academy Elsevier | Mendeley #PhDClinicSeries #PhDLife #ResearchCollaborations #GlobalAcademia #DoctoralResearch #ResearchNetworking #AcademicExcellence #ResearchOpportunities #GlobalPartnerships #PhDJourney (Image Credit: Google Images)

Developing trainee-led collaborative research networks worked ⬇️ It's 10-years since The Lancet shared our crazy ideas to build a novel collaborative approach to research networks and take this globally. The idea behind this was simple: that teams of trainees working simultaneously across several sites on a single project were more likely to deliver high-quality, timely output compared to an individual trainee working on his/her own in a single center. The secret source to making this work was two-fold: firstly, building a strong central hub-and-spoke model to disseminate, manage and organize projects, effectively coordinating activity. Secondly, harnessing the power of social media and networks to grow these activities globally. 10-years later, this weekend STARSurg UK (https://starsurg.org/) - the first national medical-student led collaborative research network - has just celebrated it's anniversary alongside the many other groups that have developed and supported this work since. Our global work went on to grow more than we ever imagined through GlobalSurg, which became the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery, and you can watch the original video explaining GlobalSurg here: https://lnkd.in/eyivGdKe There were certainly sceptics and doubters at the time, but looking back now I certainly think we achieved our ambitious aims - "To our knowledge, these UK trainee-led models are a world-first, and we welcome international collaboration to facilitate development in other countries. A global surgical proof of principle study is planned for early 2014, with dissemination via social media (such as GlobalSurg). We hope that this will make possible development of trainee-led collaboratives on a truly global scale." You can read about the original concept in The Lancet free here: https://lnkd.in/gNyw_p_D For those interested in learning more about the general collaborative research approach, a few papers and perspectives here: 1) https://lnkd.in/gEWUbwB 2) https://lnkd.in/ePqAJ7RS 3) https://lnkd.in/eb59uBRj 4) https://lnkd.in/eceSSj3u I'm proud to have played a small part in changing the face of our modern approach to global healthcare research collaboration alongside our epic team Aneel Bhangu Dmitri Nepogodiev Ewen Harrison James Glasbey, and many, many others who contributed nationally and internationally. Enjoy the anniversary this weekend and sorry I'm not in the UK to celebrate! 😊 #GlobalHealth #GlobalSurgery #Medicine #Surgery #Healthcare #PublicHealth #MedicalEducation

🌍✨ How do you move an international academic collaboration from a signed MoU to a thriving, impactful network? I’m delighted to share my article in Times Higher Education — “The dos and don’ts of successfully developing an international network in higher education” — where I reflect on our journey building a global network of 13 centres across five continents from zero funding. → https://lnkd.in/e75y7M_V Here are three highlights: 1️⃣ Just start — Don’t wait for “perfect conditions”. We built a website on Wix, reached out, and got going. 2️⃣ Make it personal — In-person meetings created relationships, accountability and momentum. 3️⃣ Keep it light & inclusive — A clear vision, minimal bureaucracy, and genuine openness to new voices (especially from low- and middle-income countries) made the difference. Of course, having an amazing co-founder and administrator Catherine Eyres is essential but is hard to replicate! I’d love to hear your thoughts: 🔹 Have you launched or been part of an international network in higher ed or research? What worked / what didn’t? 🔹 What are the key enablers of lasting collaboration in your experience? 🔹 If you’re thinking of starting one — what’s holding you back? Let’s explore: how can we rethink global networks to be more equitable, agile and impactful? #HigherEd #InternationalCollaboration #ResearchNetworks #GlobalHigherEducation #AcademicLeadership #Partnerships #EquityInResearch A-Speakers University of Leicester Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands UC San Diego Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion Evonne Kaplan-Liss Paquita De Zulueta