Decolonising the University

Blurb

In 2015, students at the University of Cape Town demanded the removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes, the imperialist, racist business magnate, from their campus. The battle cry '#RhodesMustFall' sparked an international movement calling for the decolonization of the world's universities. Today, as this movement grows, how will it radically transform the terms upon which universities exist? In this book, students, activists and scholars discuss the possibilities and the pitfalls of doing decolonial work in the home of the coloniser, in the heart of the establishment. Subverting curricula, enforcing diversity, and destroying old boundaries, this is a radical call for a new era of education. Offering resources for students and academics to challenge and resist coloniality inside and outside the classroom, Decolonising the University provides the tools for radical pedagogical, disciplinary and institutional change.

Book summary

Well-rounded insights with essay contributions from various perspectives into what it means to decolonize higher education. The book is divided into three parts: the first section provides the historical and disciplinary context of decolonization at universities; section 2 presents examples of initiatives in practice; and section 3 includes some theoretical reflections on the topic.

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Comment from our editors:

The book provides a good overview of past initiatives and actions to take for those who are interested/already involved in the movement to decolonize higher education. There is quite a focus on curriculum and pedagogy but it also covers the political economy of universities. There is something for everyone in academia, including students. You can read all 13 essays or one or two - it'd still be valuable.