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Curating Indigenous Knowledge and Practices for Sustainable Development: Possibilities for a Socio-Ecologically-Minded University

Author

Listed:
  • Marcellus Mbah

    (Institute of Education, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK)

  • Charles Fonchingong

    (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU, UK)

Abstract

Higher education continues to play an integral role in fostering regional development and this is underpinned by the concept that universities possess a social responsibility as proponents of progress in relation to society’s socio-economic, political and environmental challenges. Different approaches have been articulated but none seems to provide a useful framework to support African universities’ contribution to development in their regions. This paper interrogates the idea of the ecological university and moves on to posit the possibility for a socio-ecological premise to meet environmental and societal needs, based on a symbiotic relationship between indigenous practices and a university’s capacity to engender sustainable development. Findings from an in-depth analysis of participants’ transcripts drawn from qualitative responses depict indigenous knowledge and practices which can galvanise environmental and societal sustainability, and bring to the fore the idea of the socio-ecologically-minded university.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcellus Mbah & Charles Fonchingong, 2019. "Curating Indigenous Knowledge and Practices for Sustainable Development: Possibilities for a Socio-Ecologically-Minded University," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:15:p:4244-:d:255154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Courtney H. Thornton & Audrey J. Jaeger, 2008. "The Role of Culture in Institutional and Individual Approaches to Civic Responsibility at Research Universities," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 79(2), pages 160-182, March.
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    5. A. Nyong & F. Adesina & B. Osman Elasha, 2007. "The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 787-797, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcellus Mbah & Sandra Ajaps & Petra Molthan-Hill, 2021. "A Systematic Review of the Deployment of Indigenous Knowledge Systems towards Climate Change Adaptation in Developing World Contexts: Implications for Climate Change Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Mbah, Marcellus & Johnson, Ane Turner & Chipindi, Ferdinand M., 2021. "Institutionalizing the intangible through research and engagement: Indigenous knowledge and higher education for sustainable development in Zambia," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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