Beyond being ivory towers - Revision history

EmmaL: /* Notes from Workshop: */

2007-02-12T15:31:47Z

Notes from Workshop:

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	== Notes from Workshop: ==		== Notes from Workshop: ==

-		+	These notes were compiled after the workshop and summarise the open roundtable discussion of participants. The views don't necessarily represent those of ICP or the Talloires Network-- the aim of the workshop was to take advantage of the relatively open space provided by a social forum platform and to add new voices to the debate.

	== Introduction ==		== Introduction ==

EmmaL: /* We want to: */

2007-02-12T15:25:17Z

We want to:

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	Plan how we can expand the movement of higher education institutions committed to serving, strengthening, and partnering with their communities		Plan how we can expand the movement of higher education institutions committed to serving, strengthening, and partnering with their communities
	Encourage you to join the spreading international movement of engaged higher education!		Encourage you to join the spreading international movement of engaged higher education!
-	Organized by Innovations in Civic Participation—for more information:	+	Organized by Emma Lochery who works with Innovations in Civic Participation—for more information:
-		+
-	~~contact Emma at lochery@icicp.org~~	+

		+	contact Emma at lochery@icicp.org

	== Participants: ==		== Participants: ==

EmmaL: /* Civic Engagement: a Pure Public Relations Exercise? */

2007-02-12T15:24:20Z

Civic Engagement: a Pure Public Relations Exercise?

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-	With the above thoughts in mind, questions were raised about the true impact of civic engagement programs at higher education institutions. ~~At universities like~~ the University of Pennsylvania, where civic engagement is a central mantra of the institution, there is a question of whether, from an administrative point of view, it is mainly a PR project. How deeply does the dedication to community engagement go? Does it reach the students? The faculty?	+	With the above thoughts in mind, questions were raised about the true impact of civic engagement programs at higher education institutions. A participant who had taught at the University of Pennsylvania said that at such universities, where civic engagement is a central mantra of the institution, there is a question of whether, from an administrative point of view, it is mainly a PR project. How deeply does the dedication to community engagement go? Does it reach the students? The faculty? It is important for us to interrogate what it means to be committed to civic engagement and to consider carefully how this model of a higher education institution can be constructed.

	There is also the danger that international volunteer projects connected with civic engagement make poverty seem exotic. In Belgium, many students want to go abroad to a poor country—but are now being required to work domestically first. There is need to avoid the danger of exoticizing poverty—universities must recognize that poverty exists in its ugly forms very close to home.		There is also the danger that international volunteer projects connected with civic engagement make poverty seem exotic. In Belgium, many students want to go abroad to a poor country—but are now being required to work domestically first. There is need to avoid the danger of exoticizing poverty—universities must recognize that poverty exists in its ugly forms very close to home.
-

	== “What I research is kept in the library.” ==		== “What I research is kept in the library.” ==

Victorggk: /* BEYOND IVORY TOWERS */

2007-02-12T09:58:40Z

BEYOND IVORY TOWERS

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	'''Report by Kamau Victor Gitau'''		'''Report by Kamau Victor Gitau'''
		+	'''Compiled by Emma Lochary'''

	workshop at the 2007 WSF		workshop at the 2007 WSF
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	Tuesday, January 23rd		Tuesday, January 23rd

-	Terrain: Democratization of Knowledge and Information	+	Terrain: Democratization of Knowledge and Information
-		+

	== How can universities make another world possible? ==		== How can universities make another world possible? ==

Victorggk at 11:00, 10 February 2007

2007-02-10T11:00:12Z

Show changes

Victorggk at 09:35, 24 January 2007

2007-01-24T09:35:14Z

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	students participating must have a common goal so as to achieve the target set by the group.		students participating must have a common goal so as to achieve the target set by the group.
	theres is a need to shift from the active verb 'to help' to building solidarity.		theres is a need to shift from the active verb 'to help' to building solidarity.
		+
		+	--[[User:Victorggk\|Victorggk]] 12:35, 24 January 2007 (EAT)

Victorggk at 09:34, 24 January 2007

2007-01-24T09:34:20Z

New page

'''
== BEYOND BEING IVORY TOWERS ==
'''

'''Report by Kamau Victor Gitau'''

Participants: 16; 8 female and 8 male

'''ISSUES RAISED'''

Integrating Universities and collages in activism to bring about democratic change.
forming organizations to assist the students in doing the same.

'''EXAMPLES OF CASE STUDIES'''

Fellowship Of Christian UnionS (FOCUS) a Kenyan faith based students' organization, this organization involves itself in helping the society in matters of training, relief activities, and teaching the word of God. it also involve itself in inter-universities mission and student exchange.

Tangaza Collage (a part of Catholic university in Kenya) is another example. This is what it is involved in:

the collage is actively involved in the World Social |Forum.
community research through a reverse methodology i.e. starting with experience in the field and then looking at the books.
come up with local content in books form and research papers to help in building local/Kenyan information.
teaching and learning is based on experience to avoid influence of foreign based biases in the imported books in collages and universities.

'''Issues that came up:'''

the distance between the rich student and poor community is too long for them to learn fully the purpose of student community integration.
there is lack of information in the right formats and language
students participating must have a common goal so as to achieve the target set by the group.
theres is a need to shift from the active verb 'to help' to building solidarity.