Is This Time of Global Crisis the Opportunity That Higher Education Needs?

Abstract

The pandemic has badly affected the world without exception. All the domains of human existence have been impacted. Poor countries have suffered in specific and general ways for many reasons to do with a systemic lack of infrastructure, endemic poverty, and lack of appropriate resources. Action is required to find new and innovative ways to adapt education to the needs of developing societies in addressing crises such as this. The connection between conflict transformation theories and post-pandemic higher education challenges is explored with specific reference to indigenous paradigms in shaping alternative structures. This reflection is threefold: The authors reflect on how the concept of conflict transformation is relevant to the post-pandemic higher education and how the pandemic impacts Madagascar. Then, they focus on how Madagascar dealt with the pandemic through adoption of a more traditional approach. Finally, they discuss the concept of Teny ierana as a solution to the global crisis, not only in Madagascar but globally.