Transforming Curricula in Higher Education Through Making Connections

• In Event: Millennium Hotel Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Histories and Futurities of Language and Literacies

Abstract

In South Africa 2015/ 2016 were marked by widespread student protests. One of the main issues underpinning the protests was students’ anger with how little universities and particularly curricula have transformed. Students argued that it is time for universities to reject the iniquitous influences of colonisation and to decolonise curricula so that what and how they learn is connected to their lived experiences and ways of being of their communities of origin. This call has been met with a range of responses from academics, with many not sure what it means to decolonise curricula. Using Fung’s concept of ‘connected curriculum’ (2017) we explore ways in which some social and natural sciences curricula have been transformed at one South African university.

Authors

• Lynn Quinn, Rhodes University

• Jo-Anne Vorster, Rhodes University