In a previous article, ‘Reflections on Short CPD Training and Long-Term Mentoring Communities of Practice for Public Managers’ Shailen Popat argued on the need for a combination of Continuous Professional Development activities (CPD) and Communities of Practice (CoP). This case study examines the development of a transnational CoP focused on public management and governance. A pivotal event in this development was the CPD that took place at the University of Birmingham in March 2025, involving Ghanaian public managers and academics. The initiative, supported by the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), aimed to foster collaborative learning, capacity building, and the co-production of knowledge between Ghanaian and UK institutions. Drawing on the theoretical foundations of CoPs (Wenger, 1998) and collaborative governance (Ansell and Gash, 2007), the visit brought together senior officials from Ghana’s local government sector and academic leaders from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), alongside UK-based scholars and practitioners. The programme included plenary sessions, institutional visits, and strategic dialogues designed to integrate academic theory with practical governance experience. These engagements facilitated mutual learning and the co-design of training materials tailored to the Ghanaian context. The case study analyses the visit’s objectives, activities, and outcomes, drawing on qualitative evidence to assess its impact on institutional collaboration, policy development, and professional practice. It also considers the implications for future research and international partnerships in public administration. The findings underscore the value of CoPs as mechanisms for transnational knowledge exchange and highlight the role of universities as conveners of global public sector innovation.
A relevant paper by Dr Popat, focusing on the CPD and community of practice, can be seen here.
Keywords: international development, communities of practice, Ghana, transnational collaboration, transnational education
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