Dialogue on knowledge and interculturality: equality in cultural diversity

Cuenca, martes 26 diciembre 2017
UPS President Javier Herrán during his talk
UPS President Javier Herrán during his talk

 

The pedagogy, early education and basic education undergraduate programs, along with the ancestral knowledge and interculturality research group held a Forum which they titled "Dialogo de Saberes" or Dialogue of Knowledge. This event took place on December 19th and the aim was to strengthen the approach of interculturality and university educational inclusion. 

Cesar Vasquez, vice president of the university's branch campus in Cuenca, said "ancestral knowledge allows us to reflect on interculturality and have a horizontal, friendly and equal dialogue on cultural diversity." Since 2015 the university has held several activities such as forums, talks, celebrations of Pawcar Raymi, Inti Raymi and an open house.

UPS president Javier Herran said "Interculturality is a desired goal for those who without being indigenous take part in the development processes as external agents (…). In Ecuadorian reality, the indigenous and mestizo are recognized in their differences and create a bond that have intercultural effects in both societies, this facilitates that the development project of a territory in the Ecuadorian highlands is not new for any of the groups, but they do recognize differences. "

Several professionals took part in the forum: Fernando Garcés (UPS professor in Quito), Humberto Chacón, (director of Intercultural studies at Universidad de Cuenca), Ranti Sami Chuma (director of Culture in the Municipality of Cañar) and María Fernanda Peralta (professor from Universidad Católica de Cuenca).

The students who participated in this event showed interest and satisfaction in knowing more about the richness of knowledge of indigenous people, a theme that was approached from the anthropological perspective, knowledge construction, artistic worldview and ancestral medicine.

The event concluded with the presentation of folk dances from Universidad Católica de Cuenca and UPS.