Abstract
This paper distils lessons for conceptualising capacity-building from two locations of professional learning: for western expatriate nurses in the Middle East; and Australian early career researchers. The paper presents a comparative, exploratory case study, with the two sites of professional development as contextualised cases. One major finding was the diversity, complexity and politicised character of the professional development opportunities and experiences provided for the two groups of participants. The other finding was the dynamism and fluidity of the capacity-building approaches and outcomes demonstrated by both groups of professional learners. Furthermore, capacity-building emerges as a potential lynchpin for integrating formal and informal learning in professional workplaces, thereby rendering such learning more effective and sustainable. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.