Calculating Coloniality in Higher Education

Abstract

This keynote explores the idea that coloniality describes the emergent and future state of higher education. Coloniality refers to the ongoing systems, practices and patterns of power that echo and repeat colonial forms of engagement, in which we are all participants. Through dominant digitally-mediated extractive business models, these practices are becoming the default terms of social and educational relationships and are being internalised, normal and lived. The talk will consider the key ongoing colonial characteristics which echo historically, and which are being re-enacted and reinscribed in the present. The characteristics which will be elaborated on are : 1) central goals of profit making and market expansion, enabled by technology 2) the exploitation of natural resources and of human beings 3) the promise of improvement and progress through shared belief systems 4) premised on, amplifying and engendering inequality 5) Assimilation as a central strategy of buy-in and 6) a homogenised culture and filtered world view.
 
 To conclude, there will be some thoughts on responding to this state of coloniality given that it is the dominant reality for scholars, educators and students in higher education, even more deeply entrenched due to the pandemic.
 References
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