The Educative Purpose of Higher Education for Human and Social Development in the Context of Globalization. IV International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education - Global University Network for Innovation GUNI– April 2008, Barcelona Spain.

Meta cognition Cognition Epistemic cognition Concrete Experiences Innate Insights INSPIRATIONAL EXPERIENTIAL Spirituality

“ In a spirit engendered by John Dewey, we seek to promote the notion of critical engagement as a form of transformational work that is as democratic in its processes and practices as it is in its intentions and practices”. Fear, Rosaen, Bawden and Foster-Fishman Coming to Critical Engagement

. “ We call for a sustained discursive connections to be established between academia and the citizenry – as well as with other institutions of the state – in democratic processes through which our shared everyday experiences are collectively transformed into ….consensual meaningful actions for improvements in wellbeing that are inclusive of others and nature alike”. Fear, Rosaen, Bawden and Foster-Fishman

Universities Industry Government Citizenry students money graduates The Conventional Model of University Relationships graduates graduates money

Universities Industry Government Citizenry Democratic Discourse Critical Engagement

. Climate Change Degradation Economic Techno-Cultural Controversies Violence Globalization Social Inequities Disease Pandemics Sectarian Ecological Resource Depletion Demographic Pressures The Global Nature of the Contemporary Problematique

. Climate Change Degradation Economic Techno-Cultural Controversies Violence Globalization Social Inequities Disease Pandemics Sectarian Ecological Resource Depletion Demographic Pressures The Dense Inter-connectedness of the Contemporary Problematique

The Process of Inquiry. Conceptual World of Abstractions Concrete World of Experience Taking Action Finding Out

Worldview Window Competency ‘Tool Box’

What we ‘do’ in this world is essentially a function of how we ‘see’ it. Therefore, if we are to change what we ‘do’ in and to the world about us, we need to change how we ‘see’ it – we need to learn how to modify our worldview perspectives!

Worldviews can be characterized according to beliefs and assumptions about: The nature of nature ( ontologies ) The nature of knowledge ( epistemologies ) The nature of human nature – especially ethics and aesthetics ( axiologies )

Worldviews can be characterized according to beliefs and assumptions about:

The nature of nature ( ontologies )

The nature of knowledge ( epistemologies )

The nature of human nature – especially ethics and aesthetics ( axiologies )

The Prevailing Reductionist Techno-scientific Worldview

The Emerging Holocentric/Global Worldview

Epistemic Development From reductionism to holism

Collective Epistemic Transformation

Thank You

Cognition

Cognition Meta cognition

Meta cognition Cognition Epistemic cognition