"What Can I Offer America?" A Postcolonial Analysis of Faculty Motivations and Perceptions in North-South University Partnerships

Autor/inn/en	Mlambo, Yeukai Angela; Baxter, Aryn
Titel	"What Can I Offer America?" A Postcolonial Analysis of Faculty Motivations and Perceptions in North-South University Partnerships
Quelle	In: FIRE: Forum for International Research in Education, 9 (2018) 4, S.33-55 (23 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2326-3873
Schlagwörter	Universities; Partnerships in Education; College Faculty; International Education; International Cooperation; Knowledge Economy; Teacher Attitudes; Institutional Cooperation; Global Approach; Power Structure; Cultural Awareness; Foreign Policy; Educational History; Foreign Countries; United States; Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? University; Universität; Hochschulpartnerschaft; Fakultät; Internationale Erziehung; Internationale Kooperation; Internationale Zusammenarbeit; Knowledge society; Economy; Wissensgesellschaft; Wirtschaft; Lehrerverhalten; Institute; Co-operation; Cooperation; Institut; Kooperation; Globales Denken; Cultural identity; Kulturelle Identität; Außenpolitik; History of education; Bildungsgeschichte; Ausland; USA; Afrika
Abstract	International university partnerships are a prevalent internationalization strategy for both North American and African higher education institutions, yet the predominance of discourses that reflect the inequities of the global knowledge economy among participants perpetuate the very challenges that they are designed to address. Using a postcolonial framework, this study provides a critical analysis of qualitative interviews conducted with faculty members from one West African and one U.S. university participating in an international higher education partnership. The paper examines the motivations and perceived benefits of the partnership among participants at both institutions. It argues that the history of inequitable relationships perpetuated by globalization continues to shape understandings and pose challenges to achieving mutuality in North-South university partnerships. Findings show, for both institutions, motivations for partnership participation are based on the expectations and anticipated benefits to their institution as well as an alignment with the individual's personal goals and objectives. Furthermore, perceptions of power imbalances between participants at the two institutions are evident. Despite the partnership's intent for mutuality and reciprocity, the narratives of both West African and U.S. participants reinforce inequitable hierarchies. However, they also highlight opportunities for working toward greater mutuality and intercultural learning through North-South partnerships. Recommendations for cultivating reciprocity in North-South university partnerships are provided. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01