GTZ is now GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
Since 1 January 2011, GIZ has brought together under one roof the long-standing expertise of DED, GTZ and Inwent. For further information, go to www.giz.de/.
Since 1 January 2011, GIZ has brought together under one roof the long-standing expertise of DED, GTZ and Inwent. For further information, go to www.giz.de/.
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Indigenous Intercultural UniversityProject description
Title: Indigenous Intercultural University
ContextUnder new laws introduced in many Latin American countries, the indigenous population is now recognised as part of a multicultural society. At the same time, the influence and rights of indigenous organisations are being strengthened. However, there is still an urgent need for well-trained people to help improve the level of indigenous participation in governmental, economic and social structures. The present education system does not meet the needs of the indigenous population for education and training. Furthermore, indigenous women still have a lower level of education than their male counterparts and need more and better access to higher educational establishments. Traditional indigenous knowledge rarely finds a place in general higher education, with the result that valuable potential for intercultural dialogue is not being exploited. Courses on indigenous subjects that do exist are not designed to support the increasingly important role of indigenous peoples in today’s social and political processes. ObjectiveAn Indigenous Intercultural University has been established, providing good-quality higher education for indigenous people, which gives equal emphasis to the teaching of indigenous knowledge. Well-qualified experts and managerial staff are available for recruitment by indigenous and international organisations as well as Latin American governments, who are able to assume indigenous and intercultural responsibilities in their respective societies. ApproachThe project provides technical, organisational and financial support for the establishment of postgraduate courses specifically geared to the needs of indigenous students. It provides advisory support to the lead executing agency (Fondo Indígena) and the university institutions of the eleven participating countries in order to establish a regional training network. Twenty-five universities in Latin America and one in Spain belong to the virtual IIU network. There are intensive courses lasting three to four months, one-year diplomas or specialist programmes and two-year masters courses. The courses are designed on the basis of distance learning with part-time attendance. This is to make it possible for those women and men to study who are generally unable to attend university because of their working conditions or their living or income situations. The majority of the courses take place using an online system. Attendance is required twice a year, at which point indigenous experts from all over Latin America deliver teaching modules covering the history and world view of indigenous peoples and their traditions and knowledge at the Faculty of Indigenous Studies. The project’s most important innovation is its integration of this faculty into existing universities. A major boost to the intercultural learning process is provided by the collaboration between western academics and those from an indigenous background. The following courses are now available:
Results achieved so farAcademics and indigenous leaders have shown great interest in the postgraduate courses since their introduction. This is illustrated by the large number of applicants. In almost four years since the courses were first offered, more than 2,500 people have applied. These applicants came from 20 different countries and represent some 90 indigenous peoples. Altogether, 443 students have already enrolled on the various courses (225 men and 218 women). Around 300 students have successfully completed their studies (153 men and 148 women). Currently 92 students are enrolled on a variety of courses. A tracer study following the progress of 40 % of the graduates showed that by the end of 2010 they had all found employment in technical or managerial positions. 90 % of the respondents are working in indigenous and international organisations and in government and academic institutions. Over half hold managerial positions. Eight per cent of the graduates stated that their income had increased since completing their studies at the IIU. Downloads
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