Reading circle as collective action: Toward decolonizing knowledge production

Reading circle as collective action: Toward decolonizing knowledge production

This reading activity seeks to open discussion on decolonizing knowledge production. It welcomes researchers across disciplines and faculties interested in the topic. The platform for the first session is provided by the Ph.D. coffee meetings run by the doctoral researchers of the Faculty of Education and Culture (EDU). The idea is to create a space to collectively reflect on the hierarchies of knowledge production and the possibilities to include diverse knowledge, including indigenous knowledge, in educational research and beyond.

The first session is based on Kuan-Hsing Chen’s book “Asia as method” and related literature. To add more insights into this discussion, another recommended reading material is ¨Development as freedom¨ (1999) by a pioneer of postcolonial development theory – Amartya Sen.  

Time: Monday 14.3. 16:30 – 18:00 (Finnish time) 

Venue: Zoom; contact the organizer for Zoom link!

Agenda: 

The format of the meeting is a free discussion based on an introductory presentation (so that no pre-read is required for this meeting).

16:30 – 17:15

Doctoral researchers Satia Zen and Tram Ninh will open the floor with presentations on the potential of the reading circle, activities of the book club, and the book “Asia as method” as an example of a decolonial project in education studies. 

17:15 – 18:00

Open dialogue on the questions emerging in the presentations led by Oshie Nishimura-Sahi. The discussion issues include but are not limited to (1) Reflection on Chen’s Asia as Method and other relevant literature on decolonization in knowledge production, (2) Planning the book club activities, (3) Experiences of the “Epistemic Others” (Takayama 2019*) and reflections on the possibilities of facilitating knowledge production with ‘otherness’ and diverse identities.

* Takayama, Keita 2019. ‘Radical Potentials and Predicaments: Reimagining Japanese Education in Postcolonial/Decolonial Times. IN Kyoto University Global Education Office (ed.) A ´Japanese Model´ of Education Culture in a Global Era? Retrospect and Prospect: Inaugural Symposium of the Global Education Office. Hosted by the Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, pp. 142 ̶ 158.

Contact information: 

Tram Ninh, doctoral researcher 

Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University

Email: tram.ninh@tuni.fi