Reflectivity, Reflexivity, and Interdisciplinarity in Nepali Academia

Author: Haris Chand Adhikari (Kathmandu University, Nepal)
Speaker: Haris Chand Adhikari
Topic: Multifunctionality
The (SCOPUS / ISI) SOAS GLOCAL CALA 2020 General Session

Abstract

In this paper, I primarily talk about the relevance of reflectivity, reflexivity, and interdisciplinarity in the context of Nepali academic environment, which I take as a local text, and alongside, transformative learning and benefits of proper use of data, research collaboration and institutional care for faculty development. Meanwhile, I glance over some long-standing academic and institutional degenerations such as the growing cases of plagiarism, ritualism in research, irregularities, corruption, institutional politics, inattention to the demands for time-relevant curriculum designing, and lack of transparency and effective monitoring, which somehow come on the way to fresh and innovative research and writing and its publication culture, time-and-market suitable education, undisturbed teaching schedules, and desirable growth of Nepali academia and its academics. In this regard, I basically argue for professional integrity, accountability, total transparency, and systemic regeneration and its persistence through multi-layered effective monitoring systems in every aspect of the academia. For the support for my arguments, I take help from the relevant perspectives found in the aforementioned theoretical modalities or the references taken. To talk about systemic regeneration and its persistence, I borrow certain ideas from C. O. Scharmer’s Theory U and relevant concepts about regeneration from different disciplines. At the end, or simultaneously, I try to look for ‘ways out’ from the challenges or obstacles.

Keywords: Reflectivity, reflexivity and interdisciplinarity; degenerations, challenges and obstacles in Nepali academia; ritualism versus innovation; benefits of proper use of data, research collaboration and institutional care for faculty development; professional integrity, effective monitoring and total transparency; systemic regeneration and its persistence.