Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy
This paper considers the importance of ‘in-between spaces’ within the academy for challenging dominant institutional culture and hegemonic power relations towards a ‘de-colonised’ university. It questions ‘mainstreaming’ of transformational initiatives, as this can bring about regulation, rather tha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Education Association of South Africa
2018-11-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Education |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/1700/806 |
| _version_ | 1797356541780688896 |
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| author | Shirley Walters |
| author_facet | Shirley Walters |
| author_sort | Shirley Walters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper considers the importance of ‘in-between spaces’ within the academy for challenging dominant institutional culture and hegemonic power relations towards a ‘de-colonised’ university. It questions ‘mainstreaming’ of transformational initiatives, as this can bring about regulation, rather than the turbulence that is often what is needed for substantive change to occur. I draw on a case study of the work of the Division for Lifelong Learning (DLL) at University of the Western Cape and in particular two examples of its marginal activities which were hosted regularly over a 10 year period. These are: the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Julius Nyerere Lecture on Lifelong Learning and the cross-campus Annual Women’s Breakfast. I use documentary evidence and insider knowledge to reflect critically on the relevance of the spaces that were created for enacting such alternative institutional practices. I employ ‘knowledge democracy’ as a lens to bring the margins to the centre of the analysis. The argument is made that the work in the ‘in-between-spaces’ is a critical part of ‘decolonising education’ through disruptive, political, pedagogical, and organisational transformation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:29:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-80f48331a7e04464a2a73eac0c3cf60a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-0100 2076-3433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:29:08Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | Education Association of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-80f48331a7e04464a2a73eac0c3cf60a2024-01-12T14:36:33ZengEducation Association of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Education0256-01002076-34332018-11-013841910.15700/saje.v38n4a1700Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academyShirley Walters0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4841-6764Professor Emerita, Institute for Post-School Studies, Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South AfricaThis paper considers the importance of ‘in-between spaces’ within the academy for challenging dominant institutional culture and hegemonic power relations towards a ‘de-colonised’ university. It questions ‘mainstreaming’ of transformational initiatives, as this can bring about regulation, rather than the turbulence that is often what is needed for substantive change to occur. I draw on a case study of the work of the Division for Lifelong Learning (DLL) at University of the Western Cape and in particular two examples of its marginal activities which were hosted regularly over a 10 year period. These are: the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Julius Nyerere Lecture on Lifelong Learning and the cross-campus Annual Women’s Breakfast. I use documentary evidence and insider knowledge to reflect critically on the relevance of the spaces that were created for enacting such alternative institutional practices. I employ ‘knowledge democracy’ as a lens to bring the margins to the centre of the analysis. The argument is made that the work in the ‘in-between-spaces’ is a critical part of ‘decolonising education’ through disruptive, political, pedagogical, and organisational transformation.http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/1700/806decolonising educationfeminist popular education‘in-between’ pedagogical spacesknowledge democracylifelong learningtransformation |
| spellingShingle | Shirley Walters Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy South African Journal of Education decolonising education feminist popular education ‘in-between’ pedagogical spaces knowledge democracy lifelong learning transformation |
| title | Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy |
| title_full | Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy |
| title_fullStr | Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy |
| title_short | Working the ‘in-between-spaces’ for transformation within the academy |
| title_sort | working the in between spaces for transformation within the academy |
| topic | decolonising education feminist popular education ‘in-between’ pedagogical spaces knowledge democracy lifelong learning transformation |
| url | http://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za/index.php/saje/article/view/1700/806 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shirleywalters workingtheinbetweenspacesfortransformationwithintheacademy |