Let us defend education and assume its transformation!
“ See the change you want to see in the world ”: Mahatma Gandhi
“ We assume that the best future can only be built in the present, facing difficulties, using our potential and making the most of opportunities ”. Third Social Contract of Education-KAIRÓS
With the same conviction that we defend the university from external adversities we have to face internal weaknesses.
- Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world and education against limitations, restrictions and external adversities.
- We assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity in the world the transformation of education, facing limitations, weaknesses and internal adversities.
I- Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world the education of limitations, restrictions and external adversities.
Success does not have to depend on the adversaries of public education becoming weak or weakening because this will be difficult to do, it must depend on the firmness and consistency of our position and planning and the quality, relevance, efficiency and impact with which we carry out our work and end up strengthening our legitimacy which is our true strength and key to success.
1.1 Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world, the character of human right and good public social education as has been approved by all CRES and world conferences on higher education.
1.2 Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world, university autonomy and be an example of respect, of true democracy, of inclusion, of equity, of unity in diversity, of interculturality, not to isolate itself in order to be linked in a dynamic, systematic, integral and bidirectional way with society.
1.3 Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world, financing for public education at all levels.
1.4 Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world, that more public and private resources must be allocated to Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at a global, regional and national level, to increase its coverage, quality and relevance (Point 13 Manifests KAIRÓS).
1.5 Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world, that access to the internet, and for its end to communication, knowledge and information, must be considered a human right (Point 10 Manifesto KAIRÓS).
1.6 Let us defend with unbreakable firmness, determination and unity in diversity in the world the teaching work as a promoter of values, builder of hope and pedagogical mediator of learning in a plural educational reality (Point 7 Manifests KAIRÓS).
II- We assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity in the world the transformation of education, facing limitations, weaknesses and internal adversities.
“Any amount of material or financial resources available, any quantity, quality and modality of training hours, any technological means or educational modality will be insufficient if there is adequate action and necessary motivation” . Telémaco Talavera
Even with very variable levels and features, in many cases we still have:
An education: 1) With excessive abundance of materials, modules and contents, 2) With superfluous contents, 3) With omission of essential materials and/or contents, 4) Inadequate balance of practical theory, 5) Centered on teaching not on learning, 6) Treating all students as equals, with a focus and collective treatment that does not recognize individuality, but promotes individualism, 7) With deficiencies in types and evaluation systems, 8) With limited links with its environment and with economic and social and institutional actors, 9) With a theoretical and practical disciplinary focus on the multi, Inter and transdisciplinary, 10) Art, culture, sports and including university extension considered as extracurricular activities, 11) With extreme rigidity and inflexibility regarding inputs, travel, mobility and outputs, 12) With limited or limited learning of essential skills in the XXI century, called Soft Skills or poorly called soft skills when in reality they are central.
"The current educational model is exhausted and since KAIRÓS we recognize that we are starting a new time for education. A transformative education to address global and local social issues in the world" (Point 1 Manifests KAIRÓS).
Institutional processes that are duly elaborated and executed are important, but are usually extremely slow and therefore consistent with what we plan, we have to be very creative, innovative and understand that, just as each student is different, each institution, each academic unit is different and therefore we cannot expect them all to advance at the same pace and in the same way.
Private institutions. of any type. Including private universities, they make their changes by decision of their directors without the need to add the consensus of those involved in them.
In the case of public universities, changes must be made by consensus between members of the university community (teachers, non-teachers and students), and also in consultation with external actors, therefore, true leadership is required to make things happen in time and in the opposite way if there is a risk of holding many meetings, seminars, gatherings, meetings, congresses, etc. and when the consensus on the answers was established, the questions were changed and the questions became obsolete.
Clear plans and unbreakable firmness have strength and contagious motivation, commitment and passion from within are the key to success, therefore:
2.1 We assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity in the world, the transformation of education to raise its quality, relevance and impact as clearly established in the Third Social Contract of Education.
2.2 We assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity in the world, we are determined not to support our own struggle against climate change, poverty, poverty, forced migration, xenophobia, violence and insecurity at all levels and in all their expressions, inequality and vulnerability economic, social and environmental, compliance with the SDGs, etc.
2.3 Let us assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity in the world, the right to promote human development with justice and equity in the convergence of Nano, Bio, Cogno and Infotechnology and the dialogue of knowledge.
2.4 We assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity in the world that each of our institutions is an example of respect, of true democracy, of unity in diversity, of commitment, of transparency. respect, of true democracy, of inclusion, of equity, of unity in diversity, of interculturality, of dynamic, systematic, integral and bidirectional bonding and interaction with society.
You may have more fear of internal weaknesses than of external threats.
Personally, I was convinced that preserving the legitimacy we have and maintaining quality-pertinence-efficiency and transparency in all the areas of our work has not been achieved and there will be no external force capable of destroying us.
If we asked you to raise your hand with the members of the university community that is in agreement with public education, we would certainly have a unanimous response.
So we also have to ask them to raise the hand who is willing to assume the change from today, from each person (teaching, non-teaching, student, institutional authorities and unions).
And ask external actors (local, national and international) to raise those who are willing to support, from today and with concrete actions, the development and strengthening of education (including science, technology, innovation and extension), respecting university autonomy as our appreciated friend says. Ana Lúcia Gazzola autonomy is not synonymous with sovereignty because there is a need to yield accounts to society.
May every institutional and collective authority, every teacher, every teacher, self-evaluate and define what today and every day can improve.
Create a movement with joy, commitment and determination so that we never stop improving and that we work as a team to support and motivate each other. And the people and units that are not willing to do that do not happen at this moment, that as the hell for change changes and achieves results, everyone will disappear. This does not oppose the processes of structural change, but guarantees the change from a motivational state to drive deeper and more structural transformations.
Likewise, at the level of national instances, councils, national, regional and international networks we assume with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity the immediate changes, of medium and wide scope, but starting from what is possible and what there is consensus.
May it not continue to pass us by that there are things that for years we have been in agreement about the need and importance of doing, that we have held seminars, congresses, conferences, etc. and we agree to do it, but we don't do it.
If, for example, there are 100 things to do in 200 institutions, but at the moment we can do 5 and in 3 institutions, we do these 5 things and with these 3 institutions because it is better to do 5 concrete things in 3 institutions, than 100 things in 200 institutions without doing it as we advance The rest will disappear, or by our own will, leaving behind, because if we don't advance to others, we will not necessarily do so, but we will continue to fill the gaps.
This is also valid within our institutions, if those who carry out relevant research (which are not always the majority of academics) hope that everyone will do so, they will not be able to do just one investigation, when we have good results, we will all benefit. The same goes with teaching, with extension, with management, etc.
Even though the emphasis in this article, as you can see, is on public universities, for me it is clear that the strengthening and development of public and private universities does not depend on whether some or others are weakened, while some and others do their work with quality, pertinence, efficiency, transparency and high social commitment. Some and others we exist for society (we are part of it) and the resources that come from it, for some, we see taxes and for others, we see arances. The path is so long and there is so much to be done, that complementarity and synergy are what can allow us to advance more quickly.
One of the greatest challenges we have, in addition to training, training and updating on scientific and technical aspects specific to each career and profession, is the massive training of teaching staff on pedagogical and didactic aspects, on new learning modalities, on the values and essential competencies of the XXI century (called soft shills), but Do it not in the traditional way because it has been shown to be not very effective. The first step is to promote the greatest motivation and commitment possible to be part of the change day after day, because otherwise the rest will be little effective, promoting team work, in-person and virtual horizontal learning, carrying out supervision without systematic but not punitive evaluation as part of the learning process, learning from good and good achievements practices but also from errors, with accompaniment and support from their own colleagues in person and virtually (in both real cases) and from institutional instances. The list of students also needs to be transformed, but this will be a result of the application of learning modalities, not teaching. The training, commitment and motivation of staff in teaching is also important.
“ Fe is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase ”. Martin Luther King.
" Take your first step now. It is not necessary for you to see the complete path - Just take the first step. The rest will appear as you walk ." Martin Luther King.
Every member of KAIRÓS is an example of commitment, determination, vision and action.
Every member of KAIRÓS has his own phrase from Mahatma Gandhi: “ See the change you want to see in the world ” and we have to continue with contagious enthusiasm, commitment, determination and unity in diversity, driving the transformation of education as a fundamental pillar for the construction of a new and better society for everyone and everywhere I'm sure nothing will stay behind.
There are thousands of initiatives, projects and good actions in the world and millions of people (within and outside educational institutions) with commitment and determination on the ground waiting, but needing a strong impulse with credibility and legitimacy to advance in the construction of this better world for everyone.
KAIRÓS is not to replace, nor compete with, any initiative, institution, project or person to support the sum of efforts, pushing, as clearly we have done and practiced: Uniting the dispersed vigors with unity in diversity for the good common and taking the path to the floor.
WE NEED A REVOLUTION OF ACTITUDES!
Bell we will go to the abyss to which the Secretary General of the UN references in his opening words of the 76th session of the General Assembly of this organism on September 21st of this year: “ We are on the edge of an abyss and we are advancing in the wrong direction ”
Short success phrases (extracted from the internet that appear without the author, not of their own creation)
- The key to everything is focusing on your goals, not on the obstacles you will encounter.
- Don't wait for the opportunity, CRÉALA!
- It will be a difficult and complicated path, but that doesn't mean it will be impossible.
- Small actions every day create big things every month
- Don't stop when you're tired. Stop when it's over.
- Motivate yourself to get out of your routine, motivate you to move forward, motivate you to change everything by being better than before and then you can achieve your goals.
- Success does not have recipes, each person lives it in their own way and according to their personal experiences, unless something is safe, working and sometimes stumbling upon the strengths.
- The ladders are the symbol that gives meaning to our days, which helps us understand how a sum of small elements can take us to the top.
- Inspiring other people is not just about doing well, we have to be able to accept our mistakes and move forward to open the path for others to success.
- The infinite horizon is a utopia created to make dreamers feel infinite and powerful. Your virtues are the heritage of honor and victory.
