Hegemony, empowerment and challenges in a global research discourse

Research plays a key role in academic institutions. Institutions need research to enhance their reputation, to increase their competitiveness for research funding and to boost their teaching quality. Research is used to measure success or otherwise of institutions and academics. However, research hegemony can pose many challenges to researchers for their survival in an academic discourse. A grave warning sign for them is ―to publish or to vanish‖. In a global context, research is predominantly situated in powerful institutions in developed countries and many others in developing countries are marginalized participants. To promote global research empowerment, it is important to provide opportunities for researchers to participate actively in research activities. Computer technology has played an essential role in research empowerment.