The promotion of intercultural dialogue in the 20-year agenda of UNESCO for higher education: (1998-2017) from theory to praxis?

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Published: Jul 19, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/jret.14790
Keywords:
Content analysis Higher education Intercultural dialogue UNESCO
Charikleia Pitsou
University of Patras
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0369-316X
Niki Asterioti
University of Patras
Abstract

In the last decades of the 21st century international and regional organizations have placed in their agenda the promotion of intercultural dialogue due to globalization and cultural diversity. In particular, intercultural dialogue holds a prominent place in UNESCO’s agenda, as it is an international organization that is constantly engaged with education. This paper examines through content analysis the conditions under which "Intercultural Dialogue" is promoted in the content of UNESCO’s final reports of world conferences: "Higher Education in the 21st Century Vision and Action" (1998), "World Conference on Higher Education" (2009) and "Meeting of the Partners of Higher Education" (2003) which all are related to Higher Education. The research results obtained through content analysis, with “theme” as recording unit, have shown that intercultural dialogue can be promoted in higher education through its internationalization, its connection with the modern social reality and the creation of a democratic culture. However, it is not provided appropriate practical support either through specialized staff or through appropriate resources.

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Author Biographies
Charikleia Pitsou, University of Patras

ΠΕ60, Δρ, Διδάσκουσα στο ΜΠΣ του ΠΤΔΕ του Παν. Πατρών "Πολιτικές Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης: Θεωρία και Πράξη"

Niki Asterioti, University of Patras

ΠΕ02, Μεταπτυχιακή Φοιτήτρια στο ΜΠΣ του ΠΤΔΕ του Παν. Πατρών "Πολιτικές Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης: Θεωρία και Πράξη"

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