The importance of the concept of flourishing for education worldwide
7 December 2020
UNESCO’s Futures of Education initiative aims to research how to reshape education worldwide. Professor of Education Doret de Ruyter is co-author of a research brief, as a contribution to one of the subprojects. This brief is now available and addresses the importance of the concept of ‘flourishing’ for education.
"I am now sharing the knowledge obtained through my research with a wide and non-academic public. The report will be presented to policy makers and governments all around the world,” says Doret de Ruyter. The research brief, in which De Ruyter and her co-authors describe what human flourishing means and how it relates to education, was written as part of the so-called ISEEA research project. It forms the basis for a worldwide assessment of the quality of education, at the instruction of UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The report is due in the summer of 2021.
De Ruyter also co-authored the first chapter of the report, together with Lindsay Oades (University of Melbourne) and Yusef Waghid (Stellenbosch University). “In this chapter we discuss the central concepts of the research. UNESCO wants to highlight the concept of human flourishing. Good education attempts to help people to flourish. It is also becoming an increasingly common notion in Dutch discourse (‘floreren’). It is a beautiful concept, and most people will immediately have some notion of what it means to flourish and to come to maturation.”
Collaborating with highly qualified scholars
“It is very inspiring to work with such a large group of highly qualified scholars from all around the world. I learn a lot from that”, says De Ruyter. The contributors are working on the ISEEA report from different perspectives, disciplines and cultural backgrounds, without remuneration. The report is due in the summer of 2021. Drawing on large-scale research into the status quo of education, the report will offer recommendations for education and education policy worldwide. The project is conducted under the banner of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. This UNESCO subgroup performs a lot of research into the state of education around the world.
Better opportunities for children
“I hope that my contribution to the report will increase the opportunities for children to flourish, although this is a major challenge in many parts of the world and of course depends on more than only education. These types of activities fit the mission of the University of Humanistic Studies. UNESCO is an important organisation that can exert real influence with the report and through the subsequent lobby.” The last time that UNESCO released a report on education was in 1996: the Delors report. “High time, then, for further advice!”, says De Ruyter in conclusion.
Prof.dr. Doret de Ruyter is full professor of Education.
Project:
UNESCO’s Futures of Education initiative aims to research how to reshape education worldwide. Professor of Education Doret de Ruyter is co-author of a research brief, as a contribution to one of the subprojects. This brief is now available and addresses the importance of the concept of ‘flourishing’ for education.