From cultural visits to intercultural learning: Experiences of North–South–South collaboration

Abstract

This chapter analyses the collaboration occurring within a network of five universities in Finland, Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa from 2012 to 2016. The members of this network, called the Culturally Responsive Education network, engaged in joint teaching, research, conferences, and exchange programmes for students and faculty. The network is analysed as a space for intercultural learning through collaboration across contexts and among junior and senior education scholars sharing an interest in qualitative research methods and culturally responsive education. The data are drawn from the network participants’ group discussions, qualitative project reports submitted to the funding agency and evaluative member check interviews. The analyses focus on identifying significant intercultural learning experiences in network activities at both the individual and the institutional levels. The network activities are analysed as dynamic contexts for the development of the participants’ intercultural competences and their translation to successful network activities benefiting all participating institutions. These network activities supported the joint construction of an enabling intercultural context for individual and institutional learning. However, issues of power, access and continuity must be considered in all aspects of North–South–South partnerships to enable meaningful participation and learning by student teachers and teacher educators