Decolonising Teaching and Research: A Student Buddying Programme Between Burundi and the UK

Abstract

Social work departments at Hope Africa University (HAU) (Burundi) and Oxford Brookes University (OBU) (UK) created an innovative buddying programme for their students. The project design and evaluation were based on the Burundian principle ‘Ikibiri’ (working together) and the African principle ‘Ubuntu’ (I am because we are). Although this project stemmed from the need to decolonise curricula in the UK, it was mutually beneficial: students from both institutions learned about social work from another culture and strengthened their communication skills. Evaluation of the project took a decolonial lens, attempting to examine the extent to which students experienced a sense of Ubuntu. This chapter will share lessons learned in attempting to decolonise teaching and research, and inspire others to do the same.

Citation

Taylor, L., Childs, J., Muchiri, S., King, N., Wanjagi, D. and Charles, F. (2024), "Decolonising Teaching and Research: A Student Buddying Programme Between Burundi and the UK", Moncrieffe, M.L., Fakunle, O., Kustatscher, M. and Rost, A.O. (Ed.) The BERA Guide to Decolonising the Curriculum: Equity and Inclusion in Educational Research and Practice (The BERA Guides), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83549-144-720241019