The Importance of Indigenous Scholarship, Indigenous Knowledge, and Education in Micronesia

Abstract

This chapter examines the importance of indigenous scholarship in the Micronesian region. The authors assess education, in particular graduate students' Master's theses in the Micronesian Studies Program at the University of Guam. The University of Guam is the only four-year university in the region, offering undergraduate and graduate programs. One of the main objectives of the university is research contribution to other two-year colleges in the region, such as the College of the Marshall Islands and the College of Micronesia, Yap State Campus. The importance of indigenous knowledge, the art of researching, cultural preservation, indigenous research methods, educational responsibilities, and imposter syndrome among UOG undergraduate students are discussed throughout the chapter, noting that education should be seen as an agent of social change by promoting indigenous scholarship, indigenous research methods, indigenous languages, sense of identity, and putting forth significant contributions to the academic literature of Micronesia.