Indigenization of higher education: Reflections from nepal

Abstract

Globalization has unleashed simultaneous processes of homogenization, hybridization and indigenization with complex and varied patterns of economic, political and cultural impacts. Overall, the process seems to be moving from a modernist, uniform and centralized regime to more decentralized postmodern structures, processes, production, and consumption. Higher education under capitalistic globalization is highly commercialized and premised on “accumulation at all costs”�. In this context, this chapter attempts to look into the prospects of indigenizing higher education in South Asia, particularly in Nepal. Three major elements of indigenization of higher education are examined: content, teaching and learning, and medium of instruction. It concludes that all three elements of indigenization remain largely unattended. It argues that the higher education system in Nepal is in shambles largely due to the impact of capitalistic globalization, ”�mindless incrementalism’, over-politicization, underfunding and poor state of research and overall governance. No systematic efforts are in the making to comprehend and reverse these trends. The larger indigenization movement which could power the indigenization of education system has been taken over by ethnic entrepreneurs. Rather than promoting openness, intercultural sensitivity, shared spaces and solidarities among stakeholders, it remains fragmented, parochial, highly politicized and motivated by political profits. The development of indigenous higher education system and independent intellectual tradition in such an ecology seems a rather distant dream.