With the planet undergoing a slow-motion ecological catastrophe, and humanity facing a surge in inequality, xenophobia and racism, more and more people are asking difficult questions about the complicity of higher education systems in compounding these issues. Although many universities have acknowledged their pivotal role in making the world a better place by adopting Third Mission statements that pledge their social responsibility, their education paradigms too often remain anchored in a profoundly neoliberal agenda that almost exclusively values competitiveness and employability. Rather than promoting inclusive, global citizenship education and engaging critically with the problems of hegemonial systems, higher education institutions frequently function as silos, where knowledge and learning are seen as commodities whose function is to build narrow competences suited to meeting market demands. Such education reinforces the present widespread inequality brought about by capitalism, rather than working towards greater economic and social justice.
In this presentation, I will begin by examining the prevailing and often contradictory education discourses in Europe. I will look at how we conceptualise education itself, both its intended objectives and its processes, as well as how we view our roles as educators trying to navigate within the contested space of higher education. I will then go on to discuss how universities can help build fairer, more inclusive and democratic societies that provide a dignified life for everyone on the planet. Drawing on critical pedagogies and interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives, I will emphasise the collective dimension of learning, as well as the importance of embracing epistemological diversity and critical literacy in order to foster a democratic ethos which understands education as an instrument for social change. I will argue that such a system of empowered individuals striving towards a shared vision can lead to increased resiliency in learners, educators, institutions, and the communities with which they are engaged. Along the way, I will draw on my own experiences as a practitioner in the field and offer some examples of integrating community-engaged practices into higher education curricula.
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