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Beyond Barriers: intercultural learning and inclusion in globalized paradigms. Dr Alan Bruce Universal Learning Systems - Dublin EDEN - Lisbon 12 June 2008. Overview. Conceptual backgrounds Contours of change European dimensions Interculturalism and the Other
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Beyond Barriers:intercultural learning and inclusion in globalized paradigms Dr Alan Bruce Universal Learning Systems - Dublin EDEN - Lisbon 12 June 2008
Overview • Conceptual backgrounds • Contours of change • European dimensions • Interculturalism and the Other • Learning in a dangerous planet • Engaging with rights
Impact of change • Globalization process and impact • Labour market and work innovation, competitiveness, adaptability • Paradigms of inclusion equality and diversity • European standards learning and transnationality
Globalization • Seismic shift in human relationships • Competitive pressures • New forms of work organization • New diversities • Instant, multidimensional communications • Quality standards
Impact on work • Patterns of constant change • Permanent migration mobility • Outsourcing • Flexible structures and modalities • End of job norms • Knowledge economy • Structural inequalities
Impact on culture • End of old certainties • No return to ‘normal’ • Polymorphic media • Fuzzy logic and postmodernism
Impact on education • Professional training • Best practice • Standards and ethics • Learner centred • Innovation imperatives
Hegelian interlude • Jena 1806: Phenomenology of Spirit • Philosophy meets History • Theory of the gaze - master-slave dialectic • Desire, struggle and recognition • The visibility of the Other
European trajectories • Rights of Man: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity • Thematic mythologies - social inclusion • Legacies of struggle • Hidden pasts: colonialism, fascism, exterminism
American trajectories • Constitutional rights: Life, Liberty,the Pursuit of Happiness • All men are created equal… but… • Final frontiers: immigration, assimilation, success, opportunity • Hidden poisons - slavery, race, eugenics • Back to the future - Abu Ghraib to Guantanamo
Irish themes • Unexamined histories • Sectarian realities • Identity and modernity • Joycean deconstructions • The terrible beauty • Intercultural dialectics
2008: EU Year of Intercultural Dialogue • Permit exchange • Greater knowledge • Presumed growth in tolerance, acceptance, non-discrimination • Enhanced learning
Cross cultural competence • Educational basis in B.S. Bloom • Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956) • Holistic learning in three domains (affective, psychomotor, cognitive)
Intercultural agendas • Interaction • Empathy • Communication • Knowledge • Removal of prejudice
Nagging issues • Gender • Power • Subsumed violence • Values
Interculturalism -in other words… • We know what it is • We know when it happens • We know who is involved But why should we bother?
The Commissioner speaks Vladimir Spidla (9.6.08) • Promoting tolerance not enough • Racism requires policies on diversity, laws, anti-discrimination measures • Ongoing issues around cost implications, ambiguities, resistance, rights
Global imperatives • Radical re-structuring of world economy • Interconnected information/communication • Differential access to resources • Ecological degradation • Decline of rural life
Conclusions…. An assumption of stable work patterns and linear economic development is no longer possible Learning systems must innovate and respond accordingly
Spectres at the gates • Persistence and increase in inequality • Permanent hopelessness of excluded • Embedded violence • Internal underclass • Invisibility and ethnic difference
Urbanized futures • Planet of Slums (Mike Davis) • Informal economies • Hypercities
Learning contexts • Traditional schooling • Learning systems both reflect and lead society • Information…wisdom…understanding • Critical enquiry back to Illich • Reflection and inquisitiveness • Engaging with difference
The Balkan Ghost • Boundaries drawn to defend ‘Europe’ against the Other (Slavoj Zizek) • Decalogue and Human Rights • Love your neighbour not as mirror image… but as Real (The Fragile Absolute)
Pressing concerns • Agreed definition of multicultural • Adjustment and accommodation • Melting pot or mosaic • Separate development • Beliefs, values and practices • Symbols, language and behaviour
Challenges • Mutual interaction or structured exclusion? • Community values or communal rituals? • Linkage to realities or past models? • Shared memories or shared hatreds?
Eastern tales… • Orhan Pamuk and the re-telling of Hüstev and Sirin • Recognizing the Other Does truth lie in reality or image of reality?
Turkish perspectives “I am a copy of something, but I have forgotten what that something is.” Oguz Atay
Policy opportunities • Valued diversity • Democratic engagement • Community empowerment • Mutual benefit • Legislative underpinning • Tolerance to recognition • Acknowledged pasts - shared futures
Work based learning • Learning from intercultural strategies • Demonstrated leadership • Responding to diverse markets • Linkage and added value • Re-appropriating competitiveness • Meeting needs and profitability
Towards best practice • Training of trainers • Ongoing equality and diversity training • Commitment to diversity management • Diverse structures for diverse communities • Link inclusion to engaged learning
Multicultural learning • Innovative communication skills • Challenging stereotypes and bias • Learning across spectrum - gender, disability, age, ethnic origin • Collaborative learning - global virtual teams (University of Waikatu).
Rights and intercultural learning • No optional extras • Assuming our responsibilities as educators • Radio Rwanda to the An Yue Jiang • US army blogs • E-learning as engine of survival
Transformative learning • Planning for globalized realities • Learning from difference • Learning to learn and un-learn (Toffler) • Creative dynamism • Anticipating new learning needs • Accepting global responsibility • Asserting vision
Back to Hegel… • Challenging norms - what is indigenous culture? • Challenging stereotypes • Talent, competence and communicative empathy • Engagement with difference • Embedded vision • Recognition - seeing the Other seeing ourselves
Thank you Dr Alan Bruce ULS Dublin abruce@ulsystems.com