Implementing Systems-level Reform: Institutional Change towards Transparency

In recent years, the academic community has evaluated the research ecosystem and identified key issues which undermine the trustworthiness of its output. With it, myriad suggestions, and solutions. Despite this, change is slow and well-meaning initiatives often have adverse reactions. This is because the process of determining a vision for an ideal research system and implementing it are altogether different challenges. Furthermore, research systems in Asia, Latin America, and Africa are substantially more heterogenous than in North America, Europe, and Australia. For example, in many countries in the Global South, research culture is still labile due to the sudden introduction of policies and unique incentive structures which champion research quantity .Thus many ideas generated in one research system do not translate well and vice versa. The question becomes given reach region's unique state, how do we champion process and institutional transparency? In this talk I discuss the different factors that affect how we approach each country, including but not limited to existing policies, centralisation of research authority, and inherent cultural beliefs. Further, I outline strategies for reform using Indonesia as an example, from a grassroots movement to influencing national infrastructure and policy.