Practical steps in course designing, reading selections and classroom discussions
Questions about how to decolonise university courses and research has a special pertinence when it comes to development studies, which responds to ideas and theories in development practice itself – often viewed as an inherently colonial project. How these issues should be addressed remains contentious, and pockets of reform within higher education appears marginal.
The debate on decolonising development studies has several layers. These layers address epistemological questions, methodological issues, diversity of authors, curriculum designing, and classroom discussions with and among students. There is no standard way of addressing these issues. Hence, there is room for learning from various initiatives and building on successful efforts of teaching a development studies course using decolonial perspectives. The purpose of this event is to share lessons on one or more of the issues raised above, challenges that may need additional effort and better coordination and also mechanisms of exchanging relevant experiences for a better impact.
The event seeks to build on the lessons and challenges of teaching African Development using decolonial perspectives in the current academic year at the LSE, International Development Department, and what this may mean for other disciplines.
Speakers
Dr Eyob Balcha Gebremariam joined the LSE International Development department as a Fellow in October 2017, where he taught on the Development Studies programme. He previously earnt a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester in Development Policy and Management. His research interests include the politics of development, urban politics, African political economy, citizenship, young people in politics, youth Employment and horizontal inequalities.
Dr Rosalba Icaza is a decolonial feminist and Associate Professor in Global Politics, Gender and Diversity at the Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University of Rotterdam. She is member of the Red Transnational Otros Saberes (RETOS), co-convenes the transnational learning group "Nurturing (each) Other” and collaborates with Suumil Mookt’an in Sinanche, Yucatan, Mexico.
Dr Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes is a Senior Lecturer, multidisciplinary researcher and writer based in Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education. His research focuses on the critical study of development, education and law, and the importance of lived experience and epistemic diversity for decolonial and sustainable futures. Dr Woldeyes teaches postgraduate courses face-to-face and online, and he has won won university and industry awards for teaching, research and creative writing.
Dr Althea-Maria Rivas is a Lecturer in Global Development Studies at SOAS, University of London. She has also held positions at Sussex University and York University in Toronto. Althea-Maria's research focuses on exploring the politics of development, conflict, humanitarian intervention and peace through the lens of the everyday. Before starting her academic career, Althea-Maria worked for 12 years in the areas of diplomacy, post-conflict reconstruction, gender and development and governance with various INGOs, and local and international organisations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
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