FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Professor Describes African Principle of Ubuntuism
Fredrick Nafukho, associate professor of workforce development and adult education at the University of Arkansas, wrote a chapter in a recently published book called Comparative Adult Education Around the Globe. The book demonstrates how the basic theory of andragogy - adult learning - takes on new meanings in different social settings.
The book, which is subtitled International Portraits and Readings of the History, Practice, Philosophy, and Theories of Adult Learning, was edited by Victor C.X. Wang, a student in the vocational and adult education program in the College of Education and Health Professions. Wang, an assistant professor and credential coordinator at California State University at Long Beach, earned a doctorate from the UA program in 2002.
Nafukho, a native of Kenya, contributed a chapter called "Ubuntuism: An African Social Philosophy Relevant to Adult Learning and Workplace Learning." He describes the field of adult learning in Africa through an examination of a core social philosophy known as omunduism in Eastern Africa and ubuntuism in Southern Africa. The philosophy or world view is based on three principles - spirituality, consensus building and dialogue. It is based on the essence of what it means to be human and is essential to adult learning processes, Nafukho writes.
Nafukho co-authored Foundations of Adult Education in Africa published last year by the UNESCO Institute for Education.
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Contact:
Heidi Stambuck, director of communications
College of Education and Health Professions
(479) 575-3138, stambuck@uark.edu