Developing the WECARE cross-national research alliance for investigating early childhood educators’ wellbeing

Abstract

Purpose

This paper describes the development of the WECARE cross-national research alliance for investigating early childhood educators’ wellbeing, and details the experiences of some of WECARE’s 17 members.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores and situates the WECARE team’s experiences within extant literature on cross-national and collaborative research groupings alongside a strongly practical focus.

Findings

The study’s findings included effects of member mindsets and motivations, differentiated benefits and challenges of membership, cultural sensitivity, research capacity-building, leadership, communication, data security and planning.

Originality/value

Cross-national research is seen as an important part of academic researchers’ activities. Yet, little has been written about how cross-national research groups form and operate, and what benefits and challenges their members experience.

Citation

Cumming, T., McFarland, L., Saha, M., Bull, R., Wong, S., Ng, E.L., Sun, J., O’Hara-Gregan, J., Gould, K. and Richardson, B. (2024), "Developing the WECARE cross-national research alliance for investigating early childhood educators’ wellbeing", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-07-2024-0148