University without Borders

Integr Psychol Behav Sci. 2022 Dec;56(4):893-901. doi: 10.1007/s12124-022-09714-3. Epub 2022 Jul 2.

Abstract

The paper discusses the problem of master theses' production in psychology from a decolonial perspective. It presents a critique to the reproductive and monological model of knowledge currently promoted in higher education. Then, it proposes an alternative pedagogic model of research-tandem. The research-tandem is an example of an innovative way of understanding a university without borders, as developed within the international network of excellence "IBEF- Ideas for the Basic Education of the Future". Higher education must be detached from national-based curricula, and become a nomadic and collaborative across-cultural knowledge building endeavor. Current higher education aims to be national in its curricula but global in its marketability. In cultural psychology's perspective, higher education of the future shall be regarded as global in its vision yet local in its solutions. Future students must have the opportunity to build new knowledge by experiencing and sharing diversity rather than complying with standardized and monological trajectories.

Keywords: Cultural psychology; Decolonizing higher education; Methodology; Research-tandem dissertation; Student international mobility.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum*
  • Humans
  • Knowledge
  • Students*
  • Universities