Value creation through expansive learning: A participatory mixed-methods evaluation of a global health professions network

Purpose Global health scholarship remains marked by structural inequities in authorship, leadership, and access to scholarly infrastructure. This study examined how the Network of Practice in Health Sciences Scholarship (Network), a distributed, equity-oriented learning network, generated individual and institutional value through capacity-building and identity development.Materials and Methods A participatory, convergent mixed-methods design integrated five years of quantitative indicators (e.g. surveys, participation logs, scholarly products) with qualitative data from value-creation stories, workshops, and coaching sessions. The Value Creation Framework (VCF) guided analysis, while reflexive thematic analysis of 14 in-depth, member stories and Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) informed interpretation of systemic tensions and adaptive processes.Results Integrated analysis suggests a progression from initial motivation to sustained engagement, producing both tangible outputs (e.g. publications, new communities of practice, emerging research units) and intangible outcomes (e.g. confidence, legitimacy, and agency). Contradictions in time, hierarchy, and resources catalyzed innovations such as asynchronous collaboration and rotating authorship.Conclusions This hybrid VCF–CHAT evaluation, linking participation metrics with reflexive thematic inquiry, illustrates how global learning networks can transform tensions into more equitable and sustained collaborative practices. The Network model offers a transferable approach for sustaining scholarly ecosystems across resource-diverse contexts.