On December 16, 2020, was held the second webinar of the webinar series “Decolonising the Curriculum: The Work,” the topic of which was “Decolonising Research.” The panellists were Dr Winifred Eboh, postgraduate research director from the University of Essex, and Molly Naketsana and Franck Binze, PhD candidates from the University of the Western Cape. A number of topics were discussed during the webinar, such as:
What does decolonising research mean to the panellists;
What are some practical ways in which decolonisation of research can be done;
The decision of funding bodies to fund only certain research projects.
The webinar gave insight into these questions and more. The recording was made available through Zoom to the audience, who was unable to attend.
Decolonising research and its meaning
Dr Winifred Eboh
Research sources tend to be based on white Europeans. This causes problems in cases where non-European societies and individuals are being examined. Everything in research is very Eurocentric and not much research has been done on African people.
Universities need to be able to facilitate non-European type students or even European students undertaking research in a non-European context.
If the data is being looked at from a Westernised ideology, the real data cannot be collected. Researchers need to be mindful of whose lens they are looking through when analysing the data.
It is important for ways to be found to present data in an accurate way based on the culture of the country. Therefore, in the case of African culture, storytelling would be a great tool for data collection.
Molly Naketsana
One has to look at decolonising from different perspectives. The voices of the people need to be taken into consideration, in order to bring different knowledge and understanding.
Thinking about practicality and inclusivity is a vital step to decolonising research.
For researchers: are you bringing in other people’s voices or are you presenting your own voice only?
Practical ways in which decolonisation of research can be done
Molly Naketsana
Since Molly's research looks into TEFL, if we were to decolonise the English language teaching training, it is vital to examine how students are reporting back on their experiences, and how they feel about the teaching overall.
Dr Winifred Eboh
The researcher has to reflect on who they are in the context of what they are doing.
When someone who has a Western ideology analyses data from their perspective, their outcomes would be different from someone else’s who has a different perspective.
If one’s doing research within a context, which is not European, they should try (where possible) to bring in researchers from the place they are examining who would interpret the data in an appropriate way.
Being reflective and knowing one’s own limitations is vital to the decolonisation of research.
Funding constraints and decolonisation
Dr Winifred Eboh
Funding bodies are part of the challenge in funding research on non-European topics. They find only some projects worthy of funding, mainly based on how much they think the findings will affect people.
If no research is done in underrepresented areas, this will affect the populations, where the problem is mostly present.
Funders need to fund research in areas that affect communities other than the European ones.
Availability of resources and students’ research
Molly Naketsana
Students’ research should be funded so that students would be able to go to various places and bring in new, different knowledge.
Dr Winifred Eboh
If supervisors do not allow students to be creative and analyse topics they are interested in, the research is meaningless.
Academics and supervisors should try as much as possible to engage students in different topics because research has not gotten past the European way of looking at things.
Data collection and inclusivity
Molly Naketsana
If we are going to be inclusive, as long as the study will be impactful and will bring something relevant to the table, researchers should be allowed to conduct it.
The need for certain research in the researched communities
Molly Naketsana
Many times researchers do their studies for their own satisfaction. However, it is important to examine and think about how the research is going to benefit the researched populations. Therefore, collaboration with other people is vital.
Strategic programmes for research councils
Dr Winifred Eboh
Black students are underrepresented and they tend to fall off because they are not given the right support.
Universities should be more inclusive in the way they approach professional courses.
Molly Naketsana
Research needs to be promoted to people, and more individuals in Africa should be encouraged to pursue a career in research.
Decolonising research as a stepping stone for decolonising academia
Dr Winifred Eboh
We need to treat people as equal partners and allow their voices to be heard.
That can only happen when some of the barriers that have prevented us from hearing the voices of different communities are broken down.
Molly Naketsana
We have been growing up with the mentality that everything Western is beautiful. What if we could bring something else to the table?
Our next webinar is going to be held on January 27, 2021, from 3 PM to 4 PM GMT, and is going to look into the topic of “Decolonising University.” More details can be found on the event’s page.