• Endogenous development, education and research

An increasing number of universities and institutes of higher learning are offering innovative education and trans-disciplinary research programs, which are inspired by indigenous cultures and endogenous knowledge. This is happening in a creative dialogue between mainstream and indigenous knowledge traditions. This dialogue is a constructive way to reduce the dominance and exclusivity of mainstream knowledge in education and research processes worldwide. Higher education based on transdisciplinarity and dialogue between different knowledge traditions aims to broaden the content and form of higher education, by building on the rich diversity of knowledges in all parts of the globe.

One of the initiatives in this respect is CAPTURED, an international programme “Capacity and Theory Building for Universities and Research Centres in Endogenous Development”. The programme is founded on the belief that the cultural and scientific diversity is as important for civilizational evolution as bio-diversity is for biological evolution. The programme is lead by the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Ghana, the Agroecology Programme (AGRUCO) of the Universidad Mayor de San Simon (UMSS) in Bolivia, and the Foundation for the Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) in India.

Similar initiatives exist in Canada (specifically the University of Saskatchawan), New Zealand (the University of Waikota) and a range of other universities. An International network exists for Indigenous Nations Higher Education (WINHEC) Also international organizations as UNESCO, United Nations University have programmes in this domain. These initiatives can benefit from exchange and cooperation.

The international conference therefore seeks to bring together actors in higher education to share experiences, identify challenges and build strategic alliances for mainstreaming and enhancing endogenous education, research and development.

• Conference Objectives

The conference will focus on:

Sharing of achievements, potentials, limitations and future challenges for further growth of endogenous education and research and of university based programs of endogenous development.

Strengthening of existing relations and build new strategic alliances with key players in higher education and research for endogenous development.

Establishing an international platform for the promotion of endogenous knowledge and research in higher education.

• Conference themes

Specifically, the conference will offer the opportunity for sharing experiences and exploring future activities on educational methods, field experiences and networking strategies related to: 

1. Models, experiences and results of dialogue between endogenous and mainstream knowledge
2. Approaches and achievements in theory building on indigenous ways of knowing and sciences
3. Methods and materials for transdisciplinary research, endogenous development and education.
4. Correlation between endogenous and mainstream knowledge concepts and categories
5. The status of endogenous research and education and strategic directions for further initiatives 

• Participants of the conference

Staff and students of universities that have programs on endogenous learning and research.

Scientists of mainstream universities who have experience sharing and learning together with indigenous communities

Field based organizations linked to knowledge institutions and universities who are working in the direction of endogenous development

Funding and policy making agencies related to education, development and research.

• Organization and venue

The conference will be co-organized by CAPTURED and other organizations being identified and will hosted by AGRUCO of the Universidad Mayor San Simon in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pluri-national State of Bolivia, committed its sponsorship and support to the conference.

The conference will be held in Tarata, a typical Andean town in the Bolivian Andes, located at a distance not more than 30 minutes from Cochabamba’s international airport.

The conference will include plenary presentations, as well as workshops during which specific topics will be dealt with and in which specific recommendations for future action will be formulated. Field visits to rural areas in Bolivia, meetings with indigenous researchers and leaders of rural communities with which AGRUCO cooperates since many years are part of the program.

The dates of the conference coincide with an important festival during which the people in Tarata celebrate “Todos Santos” (All Saints and All Souls Day), in which the participants of the conference are welcome to take part.

Provisional programme

• October 29: Arrival and registration
• October 30: Opening and Protocols

Plenary presentations by CAPTURED and other resource persons

• October 31: Plenary presentations by CAPTURD and other resource persons (continuation…) Workshops in subgroups according to the 5 themes.
• November 1: Workshops in subgroups and plenary presentation.

Discussion on establishing international platform and forward actions

For those short of time: Option to return homewards

• November 2: Intercultural work and participation in Festival “Todos Santos” (all saints) in Tarata and Arbieto village and cemetery.

Group reflection on festival

• November 3:Plenary and presentation of the exchange of groups experiences

Panel on life and death in different cultures

• November 4: Visit to Andean community with experiences in endogenous development.
• November 5: Touristic visit to Cochabamba town, traditional fair “La Pampa”.
• November 6: Departure of participants.

 A more detailed programme will be published on the website.

Call for contributions

The conference invites participants in contributing papers that present experiences, results on endogenous research, education and development and visions on future strategies, activities and cooperation.

For each paper the link with one of the 5 conference themes should be indicated.

Interested persons are invited to subscribe for the conference taking into account the following deadlines:

- Send subscription form through email to Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla by July 30
- Send title of paper and abstract (500 words) by July 30
- Screening of Abstracts, Confirmation of admission September 1
- Send full paper latest by October 15
- Registration for conference: September 1)

Conference fee

Participants are requested to pay a conference fee of USD 200 that includes: opening ritual, food and snaks, sourveniers, digital memory (electronic), participation of cultural events.

The costs of hosting should be covered by participants, for which we will send detailed information once that the participants show interest in the conference

Further information and registration:

www.Captured-edu.org

www.captured-la.org

www.frlht-captured.org

http://www.uds.edu.gh/

For detailed information on the programme and traveling contact: Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla