Transforming higher education: connecting knowledge and community
Let's transform and reshape higher education to meet the challenges of our times—embark on a journey of building knowledge and community, social change, and leadership. Our short courses are packed with current information and resources to ensure your stay at the forefront of this innovative field. Elevate your learning, connect with leading experts, and refine your skills in our individual courses or comprehensive program. Your knowledge democracy journey starts here.
About the program
Knowledge Democracy in Higher Education is a learning series focused on understanding the principles of community-university engagement, community-based participatory research, building equitable partnerships, integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and transforming higher education. This online program will combine both asynchronous and synchronous learning (led by the UNESCO Research Chairs and invited experts).
This learning series draws inspiration from renowned experts in the field of community-based participatory research and social responsibility in higher education, curated and led by Drs. Budd Hall and Rajesh Tandon. Their extensive expertise and contributions have significantly shaped the program's content and approach. Their collective efforts have also contributed to developing participatory research methodologies and knowledge democratization, which enriches the program's objectives of fostering equitable partnerships, addressing global challenges and co-constructing sustainable change. Participants can look forward to engaging with their profound insights, experiences and ground-breaking contributions.
Participants will be able to engage with cutting-edge concepts, learn from experienced educators and external experts, and actively contribute to developing democratic learning environments. Join us as we explore the dynamic intersection of knowledge, society, power, and the pivotal role of knowledge in addressing global challenges while promoting inclusive and sustainable change. Don't miss this chance to be part of a transformative journey toward knowledge democracy and its practical implementation within higher education.
What you will learn
Learners who complete this program will be able to:
- recognize multiple dimensions of knowledge
- apply knowledge democracy principles in education
- advance democratic values such as transparency, inclusivity and accountability
- better integrate the SDGs in research and teaching in higher education
Who should take this program
This program is offered to groups as part of our Custom Learning Solutions.
This program is for national and international academic leaders, researchers, and others working in the knowledge sector and/or community-based organizations.
Sessions
Global Policies in Knowledge Democracy and Higher Education
This course focuses on recent reports and policy documents associated with UNESCO and the 2022 World Conference on Higher Education.
Read moreOther highlights include the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science; new ways to reinvent higher-education, knowledge-driven actions, Indigenous perspectives and more.
Learning objectives
- Understand and be able to share information about new approaches to open science involving community actors and previously excluded knowledges
- Reflect on the implications of recent global higher education documents for your own work and your own institution
- Be aware of the work of the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education and other key global networks
Integrating SDGs in Higher Education
Explore the critical features of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their global significance.
Read moreThrough engaged teaching methods, you will learn to effectively convey the importance of SDGs, while fostering awareness and commitment. The trans-disciplinary nature of research is emphasized within the SDG framework, encouraging educators to collaborate across fields, and delving into contextually actionable research partnerships that empower higher education institutions to drive real-world impact by aligning with SDGs.
Learning objectives
- Name three critical features of SDGs
- Explain ways to apply SDGs to engaged teaching
- Elaborate on specific examples of the transdisciplinarity of research in SDGs
- Explain ways to make research partnerships contextually actionable
Bridging Knowledge Culture: Rebalancing Power
An introduction to the concept of knowledge cultures, the ways in which knowledge is created, validated, shared and acted upon in different settings.
Read moreWe will look at the differences found in the knowledge cultures of academia compared with diverse community contexts. This course is based on the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada UNESCO Chair research project on Bridging Knowledge Cultures. The course is based on the Lepore, Hall and Tandon book on Bridging Knowledge Cultures.
Learning objectives
- Share understandings about the concept of knowledge cultures
- Distinguish between major academic knowledge cultures and diverse community knowledge cultures
- Reflect on ways to bridge knowledge cultures within your own work
Community-University Engagement and Partnership Development
This course offers a brief introduction to the theories and practices of community-based participatory research as developed by Rajesh Tandon and Budd Hall, who have led the development of these approaches since the 1970s.
Read moreIt will offer an introduction to the history of the field, the principles, working with not for communities, and the implications for higher education institutions. There will be Zoom conversations with Budd Hall, Rajesh Tandon and another international practitioner.
Learning objectives
- Describe a variety of approaches to community-university engagement
- Identify institutional structures to support CUE
- Be familiar with the Carnegie Classification System for CUE
- Advocate for regional or national policies on CUE
Community-Based Participatory Research
This course builds on 45 years of experience in scholarship and practice with professors Rajesh Tandon and Budd Hall, along with the contemporary insights of Olivia Andrade de Almeida, coordinator of the Knowledge for Change Mentor Training Programme.
Read moreThe course outlines principles of community-university engagement; the challenges of integrating community-university engagement into research, teaching and service in higher education institutions; reviewing institutional structures to support CUE; and sharing information on national policies supporting community-university engagement.
Learning objectives
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the discourse of community-based participatory research and its several similar approaches
- Assess whether CBPR principles are being used in a research project
- Explore ways to integrate CBPR into institutions of higher education
For more information
Please complete our Contact form and a member of our team will be in touch.
Learn how we can work with you to deliver Custom Learning Solutions tailored to your organization, group or team.