Intercultural Universities and Ways of Learning

Abstract

Since the end of the 20th century, as a result of the struggles of indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in Latin America, different types of universities have been created that are often generically referred to as?intercultural universities.? However, experiences in this field are very heterogeneous and a distinction must be made between those established ?by? indigenous and/or Afro-descendant organizations and/or intellectuals, others that have been established through alliances between indigenous and Afro-descendant communities with ?conventional? universitiesand/or different types of social organizations, and others founded by state agencies.The present chapter offers an overview of this diversity of institutional arrangements whilepaying special attention to the modes of learning developed within them. These modes oflearning, as well as the incorporation of the knowledge and proposals of indigenous and Afrodescendant peoples in the learning process, are often linked to the origins and institutionalmodels of the corresponding universities. It is also observed that these origins and institutionalmodels condition the forms of relations between these universities and the communities andorganizations of indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, as well as the main axes of tension andconflict with the corresponding states.