The Possible Infusion of Ubuntu and Paideia Values into Neoliberal Tendencies in Higher Education Institutions.
Saved in:
| Title: | The Possible Infusion of Ubuntu and Paideia Values into Neoliberal Tendencies in Higher Education Institutions. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | van der Walt, Johannes L.1, Oosthuizen, Izak J.1 |
| Source: | Christian Higher Education. Oct-Dec2022, Vol. 21 Issue 5, p338-357. 20p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Paideia program, *Higher education, Ubuntu (Operating system), Business enterprises, Quality of work life |
| Abstract: | Since the 17th century, life in general—and in particular with respect to the management/administration of higher education institutions (HEIs)—has been dominated by neoliberal tendencies. Stated another way, neoliberalism is the tendency to view everything in capitalist terms and to see all institutions as businesses, including those that in principle have no connections with trade and industry. Due to this orientation, colleges and universities have become corporatized and the people working in them (administrators, professors, and students) have been reduced to homo economicus. This inclination has been widely criticized by those who perceive that they have been dehumanized by such conditions. This article examines the possible infusion of values associated with the age-old paideia ideal and of the sub-Saharan African ubuntu philosophy, despite them having shortcomings of their own, into the neoliberal approach as a possible means of finding greater balance and humanization in the midst of increased institutional pressures and complexities. The paideia ideal attaches greater value to the well-roundedness of the human being than does neoliberalism, and the ubuntu philosophy could contribute toward toning down the current neoliberal individualism in higher education institutions. Although some of the features and values of neoliberalism should be retained in HEI life and management, they ideally could be made less forceful by an infusion of the values associated with philosophies such as paideia and ubuntu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Christian Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
Be the first to leave a comment!
