Diversity in Education in Global Context

Independence & Interdependence extent the limits on independence and autonomy for ourselves, our students, and the institutions and structures within which we work, teach and learn. We do not educate, nor are we educated, in vacuums, but in such contexts and constraints as families, groups, and societies; of nations and cultures; of identities and religions; and of political and financial realities.

The technological and logistical advances of globalization have enabled us to become independent, and empowered as never before, but have also made us more dependent on the very things allowing autonomy. While technologies allow us to communicate with those on the other side of the world, they can also separate us from those nearby, and contribute to alienation, or loneliness.

And yet, this increased interconnectedness offers great opportunities to work together to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues, and reminds us of our responsibilities towards each other. Our independence is contextualized in the relations we enjoy with others; in our families and communities, shared institutions, in our wider societies, geographical and political entities, and finally, as a part of the one world we all share.

How do we help students and teachers alike navigate and curate the vast information available? How do we encourage individual growth while also underlining the importance of belonging and of the reciprocal responsibilities and privileges of education? How do we help students build the skills and attitudes necessary for positive engagement in distributed, globalised communities that so often lead to polarization and alienation instead? How do we educate with independence and interdependence in mind? How do we engage meaningfully in “international development” through education? What are the successes and failures of the international system in addressing some of the most pressing concerns of our time?