UBC Okanagan

Historically, institutions of higher education and the communities that host them have co-existed amid somewhat ambivalent relationships. These relationships have ranged from cooperative alliances through mildly strained essential interactions, to openly antagonistic and sometimes violent confrontations. Faculty and students have at times been perceived as elitist, privileged, and ego-centric, ensconced in their “ivory towers”, far removed from the realities of the political, economic and social problems of the broader society that, ironically, their advanced knowledge reputedly equips them to solve. Over time, these relations have settled into safe, co-dependent, mutually beneficial collaborations and partnerships, with students often “giving back” to society only after they have graduated and joined the “real world” of work.

The traditional paradigm of post-secondary education is characterized by somewhat esoteric curricula and transmission-based pedagogies whose relevance to the needs of the external, non-academic community sometimes appears distant and far removed. However, this traditional approach to post-secondary education seems inappropriate and altogether out of sync with the 21^st century and its knowledge-based economy, new multimedia technologies and increasing globalization. Instead, it is being replaced by a new paradigm which strives to mobilize knowledge and exchange it with the community in order to make a significant difference to the wider society. The new paradigm offers insights into how to engage learners by having them explore global issues from multiple points of view, challenge their own values, and provide academically-based service to real external communities. In contrast to traditional information-dissemination models of teaching, new interdisciplinary approaches seek to transform classrooms into learning sites that depart from individualistic activities into collaborative learning experiences that promote civic engagement and bridge the gaps between educational institutions and diverse international communities.