Cultural competence: a living theory of personal transformation within the context of higher education

["Multicultural education -- South Africa -- Free State","Cultural competence -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Free State","Educational change -- South Africa -- Free State","Race relations -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Free State","Thesis (Ph.D. (Higher Education Studies))--University of the Free State, 2011"]

Van Jaarsveldt, Deirdre Elizabeth ; ["Wilkinson, A. C.","Sienaert, E.","Esterhuizen, H. L."]

University of the Free State

Others  :  http://scholar.ufs.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/11660/8351/1/VanJaarsveldtDE.pdf

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Iowa

【 摘 要 】

English: This living theory was developed in response to indisputable evidence that racismand other forms of discrimination are still being experienced at South Africanuniversities. As a white female educator, it was important to investigate my practicesto ensure that I am sensitive to the needs of a diverse student body.Committed to a process of personal transformation, I engaged in living actionresearch to find answers to the question:How do I transform my practices to be more inclusive, appropriate andeffective in relating to a diverse body of people within the context of highereducation?In order to gain a better understanding of inter-group relationships, I conducted acomprehensive concept analysis by engaging in a review of literature from amultiplicity of perspectives. Ethnocentrism, in its various forms of expression, wasfound to be the main stumbling block in intercultural relationships and therefore Iengaged in an enquiry to find ways of overcoming ethnocentrism.Cultural competence, a transformative process, which involves continuously strivingtowards relating more appropriately and communicating more effectively within adiverse context, was employed. This is a process of cultural humility, as it involves adesire to learn from others. Cultural competence is a continuous process and not anevent, which involves cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skills, culturalencounters and cultural desire. To gain cultural awareness, I performed anautoethnography, as well as an ethnographic analysis of South African history todiscover the intellectual baggage transmitted to me from generation to generation.White supremacy, an ideology based on eurocentrism, a specific form ofethnocentrism, was found to have had a major influence in the cause andmaintenance of oppressive inter-group relationships.With this knowledge, I conducted a self-redefinition to set standards for my futurepractice based on the internal cultural constructs of values, beliefs, attitudes,assumptions, norms and lifeways.Ultimately, I discovered that excellence in teaching practice, scholarship andleadership can be achieved by means of a teaching philosophy based on an ethic ofcaring. In other words, values stemming from a caring ethic steer practices towardsbeing inclusive, appropriate and effective in relating to a diverse body of peoplewithin the context of higher education.