Coaching Agenda

1. Opening session
   Introduction to the REACH Coaching.
   • Cecilia presents the REACH tool.
   • Team-leaders introduce the team-members.
   • Each team-member present their individual ambitions and outcome challenges.
   • The team identifies common or joint outcome challenges and make them team ambitions and challenges.
   • Progress markers are agreed on for each team-member and for the full team together.
   • Cecilia  supports with developing a draft road-map.
   • Agree on Monthly coaching meetings
     The team agrees on a time for monthly REACH coaching meetings, maybe one hour, when the team-members are coached on developing and revises road-maps and where progress markers are measured.
   • Agree on Monthly local meetings
     The team agrees on a time for monthly meetings, maybe one or two hours, when applicants presents their work related to progress markers (grant applications and manuscripts) to the team and benefits from team-review.
     • The monthly meeting gets a name, maybe “Monthly internal review workshop” or “Monthly review club” or….”.
     • The time, venue and name of coordinator (circulating) is noted in the Road-Map.
     • Refreshment is served if possible.
   • Team-member expert committee
     • Each team member will become an expert on topics they have presented to the team (from the AuthorAid and Research4Life resources) and guides their colleagues on this specific issue.

   • Annual reporting, Due 15 January.

     • Each team members reports scoring of their individual progress markers and if scoring is low and adjusted road-map; maybe new identified outcome challenges and related activities and mile-stones. Include
     • Attends minimum 10 ROPE coaching sessions per year, and is active during the sessions
     • Has access to internet and stable network.Has access to a good enough computer
     • Has a written time management plan
     • A certain amount of hours are set aside per week for grant application and manuscript writing
     • Measure Baseline, 31 December the year prior to the the start of the coaching, of the above parameters.
     • Each team-leaders reports as above on the joint team progress markers.
   • Link to the institution management.
2. SECOND session
   Sustainable economy & institutional capacity
   Besides topics arising from specific situations, knowledge will be shared around:
   • Access to quality internet and quality network.
   • Access to good enough computer. Maybe establish a pool of computers that team-members can borrow, while being part of the team.
   • Access to reference manager software.
   • Access to Web of science.
   • Pictures: Bio render
   • Ensure each team-member can cover the tuition fee, through ISP or elsewhere.
     Staff do not need tuition fee, but they also have less time.
   • Efficient communication
     • Zoom meetings, WHAP chat
   • Efficient time-management.
   • Positive and supportive team spirit.
   • Local, targeted and international networks.
   • Stakeholder empowerment and motivation.
   • Transparency and accountability including trust, accounting, auditing.
   • Research ethics.
   • Cross-cultural awareness raising
     as key to the success of the event itself is cross-cultural mutual understanding between the participants this be an aim of the coaching.
3. Support for women_Coaching
   • Arrange with senior women role-model mentors for junior women who would like to have this. Set up a meeting schedule and rewards for the mentors.
   • In case the interest is large, coordinate a local network of lady support.
   • Possibly offer grants targeting women.
   • “Sex for grades” is addressed, if relevant.
4. Supervision_Awareness raising & training
   It is key that each researcher has access to useful supervision. The supervisor must know how to inform about all necessary scientific issues, how to build teams of the researchers that shall publish together and ensure that their team members have access to ALL necessary input. With such understanding, the researcher can by her/him-self reply to many questions, make successful plans and take the right initiatives.
   • Make a scheme of researchers and supervisors.
   • Time-management review.
   • A separate mini road-map is created during the training to guide supervisors with their assignments.
   • Resources on the topics available on internet are compiled, shared and used.
5. The scientific method_Training.
   It is key that each researcher has a perfect understanding of the scientific method.
   With
   such understanding, the researcher can by her/him-self reply to many
   questions, make successful plans and take the right initiatives.
   It is also key to time management at a personal level.
   • Cecilia offers presentations on the “Scientific method”.
   • Resources on the topics available on internet are compiled, shared and used. Interested team members make presentations on the topic, and become Team member experts.
   • Ethics in research is reflected on.
6. Ethics in Research_Awareness raising and reflection
   • Good research practices rest on some fundamental principles: that one can be assured that research is of high quality; that research is conducted and reported in a truthful way and with respect to important societal values; and that researchers take responsibility for their research and its consequences.
   • Principles put differently: Nonmaleficence: not doing harm, Beneficence: doing good, Autonomy: promotion of self-determination of others, Justice: fairness, Universalisability: applicability in other such circumstances, Rationality: ability to give good reasons.
7. Seeking research grants_Home work & participant presentations
   Addressing the progress marker submitting two research grant applications per year.
   
   • Participants make an overview of possible sources of research grants.
   • Each team-members selects around three sources of research grants that fit with the individual research topic.
   • Author AID resources   (www.authoraid.info)
     Compile resources from AuthorAid that address the group challenges.
     • Presentation of resources: Each group member selects a topic and gives a presentation during the monthly meetings, the discussions are compiled into a small report.
       When each group members has presented minimum one topic each a compilation of the topics chosen is made. A schedule for addressing the resources identified in the internal monthly sessions is agreed on and implemented.
   • Monthly internal review workshops.
     Applicants presents their draft application to the team and benefits from team-review.
8. Manuscript writing_Home work & participant presentations
   Addressing the progress marker, submitting two manuscripts per researcher and year.
   • Author AID resources   (www.authoraid.info)
     Compile resources from AuthorAid that address the group challenges.
     • Presentation of resources: Each group member selects a topic and gives a presentation during the monthly meetings, the discussions are compiled into a small report.
       When each group members has presented minimum one topic each a compilation of the topics chosen is made. A schedule for addressing the resources identified in the internal monthly sessions is agreed on and implemented.
   • AuthorAid training events
     • Dates and topics of free training events by AuthorAid is compiled. A coordinator for external training is assigned. Group members registers for trainings and the coordinator keep track of the registrations.
       After each training the topic of of the training  meeting will be to share at the monthly meeting.
   • Predatory publishing awareness
     • Predatory publishing, also write-only publishing or deceptive publishing, is an exploitative academic publishing business model that involves charging publication fees to authors without checking articles for quality and legitimacy, and without providing editorial and publishing services that legitimate academic journals provide, whether open access or not. Naive readers are victims together with researchers having their work overlooked.
     • Web of science. A paid-access platform that provides (typically via the internet) access to multiple databases that provide reference and citation data from academic journals, conference proceedings, and other documents in various academic disciplines. It is currently owned by Clarivate.
       
   • Monthly internal review workshops.
     Each team member presents their draft manuscript to the team and benefits from team-review.
9. Literature review & publishing process_Exercises & annual training by librarian
   Addressing the progress marker, submitting two manuscripts per year.
   • INASP (https://www.inasp.info)
     INASP Aims to strengthen the capacity of individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge in Africa,
     Asia and Latin America. We work across the research and knowledge system. INASP negotiate with publishers across disciplines to provide researchers and libraries in developing countries with the journals, books and databases that they need at affordable prices.
   • Research4Life resources  (www.research4life.org)
     Research4Life provides institutions in low-and middle-income countries with online access to academic and professional peer-reviewed content. Research4Life content is grouped into the following collections: Hinari is one of the world’s largest collections of biomedical and health literature. AGORA  is an outstanding digital library collection in the fields of food and agriculture. ARDI gives access to scientific and technical information. GOALI focuses on law and social sciences, including politics, economics, philosophy, history and more. OARE collects information resources on environment, including ecology, geography, energy and more.
     • Take time to do the exercises, https://www.research4life.org/training/authors-hub/, either individually or during the internal monthly meetings.
     • Sign up for the Research4Life MOOC and webinars, watch videos on Youtube.
   • Ensure access to the databases available at the institution library
     
     • Develop a effective and efficient literature search profile. Reach out to librarian for help. Invite librarian to ISP monthly meeting or local meeting.
   • Reference management tools: Mendeley, Zotero, and End-note.
10. Review the ROPE road-map & measure progress markers_Coaching
    Reflect again on ambitions and outcome challenges taking the AuthorAid and R4L support into consideration. Score and re-reflect on progress markers. Consider as well:
    • Intrinsic motivation.
    • Stakeholder analysis.
    • International equal win-win partnership.
11. Sustainable economy_Coaching, home-work and participants presentations
    Address the progress markers sustainable economy.
    • Sources of income
      The team brainstorms on possible sources of income related to defined ambitions; research grants, selling products and services to customers, crowd-funding, reach out to the Government with Policy briefs and round table sessions, reach out to the private sector with round table sessions.
    • Seeking research grants_Participant Presentations
      • Author AID resources
        Compile resources from AuthorAid that address seeking research grants. Group member selects a topic and gives a presentation during the monthly meetings, the discussions are compiled into a small report.The presenter now becomes an expert of the topic presented and shares about this in the internal monthly review meetings.
    • Selling products and services to customers.
    • Reach out to the Government with Policy briefs and round table sessions.
    • Reach out to the private sector with round table sessions.
    • Establish a financial plan_Team-leader presentations
      • Team-leaders presents how the funds available shall support the team and how new funds shall be generated. A business plan is developed.
      • Individual researchers presents how they shall financially contribute to their own research and to the team business plan.
      • Accounting, accountability and transparency procedures are agreed on at the team-level.
12. The grant application review_Training & reflection
    • Cecilia offers training on the grant application review process.
    • Team-members discuss each other’s applications.
13. Revisit the manuscript writing – Literature_Coaching & training.
    • Revisit the resources of Author Aid.
    • Connect again with the university librarian.
    • Seek support from  INASP.
    • Go through referencing software, including End-Note. Ensure that each researcher has access to End-Note or other tool.
    • Go though search databases including where to upload own publications and thesis.
    • Cecilia offers training on manuscript writing and manuscript peer-reviewing.
14. Review the scientific method_Training & reflection.
    • Cecilia offers training on “Scientific method”.
    • Team reviews their research projects and refelcts on the scientific method.
15. Laboratory work & access to advanced functioning scientific equipment (FAST)_Coaching
    The purpose with the “HR&S Functioning Advanced Scientific Equipment” (FAST) Support programme is to support laboratories and Scientific Institutions with the selection, transportation, installation, calibration, operation, maintenance, servicing, use and decommissioning of advanced scientific equipment. Each programme builds on the Real-time Outcome Planning and Evaluation tool (ROPE) which measures whether the support provided by the enabled the partners to be successful.
    • • A. Equipment procurement and delivery.
      • B. Equipment use & maintenance.
      • C. Construction of laboratories.
      • D. Operational & Financial plan development.
      • E. Laboratory business idea.
    • Compile and share resources  from
      • the Royal Society of Chemistry, https://edu.rsc.org
      • Supplier websites
      • Each group member selects a topic and gives a presentation during the monthly meetings. A coordinator for internal training is assigned.
16. Safety
    • Health and environment.
17. International collaboration_Participant Engagement
    • Develop equal partnership relations with senior and junior researchers within the same discipline; locally, regionally and globally.
    • Join networks. When joining suitable network, be active. Join discussions, support colleagues, share knowledge, give advice.
18. Review the ROPE road-map_Coaching
    • Address progress markers.
19. Presenting at conferences_Training
    • Preparing oral presentations and posters.
    • Resources available through AuthorAid.
    • Address the progress marker.
20. Reaching out to policy makers
    • Develop and share policy-briefs.
    • Invite to round table sessions.
21. Bureaucracy & hierarchy_Coaching
    Bureaucracy and hierarchy often make progress inefficient.
    • Make stakeholder analysis.
    • Involve policy makers in the ROPE work.
22. Social enterprising targeting the implementation of scientific findings_Coaching
    • Reaching the target audience, value proposition & customer segment, the lean business model, performing customers survey interviews and analysis, get commitment from the first few customers / scale with new customers, business model, boot-strapping, strategy for change, start / scale-up loans.
23. Review the ROPE road-map.
    • Measure progress markers.
    • Measure sustainable impact.