Web‐based exchange of views enhances “Global Studies”

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this article is to present the development‐oriented Master's curriculum “Global Studies” (GS) at the University of Graz, Austria, as an example of interdisciplinary academic training with the purpose of fostering inter‐“cultural” understanding. It aims to show that scientific disciplines can be understood as “cultures of cognition” producing own views of realities.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a decade of previous experiences, the communication and assessment functions of e‐learning platforms and e‐journals are used to facilitate stepwise approximations among the various “cultures of understanding”.

Findings

Despite severe financial limitations, peer‐oriented planning and lecturing efforts since 2004 have resulted in a bundle of electives and in a new Master's curriculum elaborated cooperatively by the faculties of the legal, economic, historic, cultural, natural and communication sciences at Karl‐Franzens‐University Graz. Both the bundle of electives and the Master's curriculum appear to offer a truly “m:n type” interdisciplinary and intercultural design which assumes various stakeholder‐dependent perspectives of multi‐faceted realities.

Research limitations/implications

The wealth of interdisciplinary and intercultural thought and practice can be best “proceduralised” through dialogue‐oriented educational technologies.

Practical implications

In practical terms, hundreds of students may follow these web‐enhanced curricula that are based on the materialised results of their founders' ethical systems.

Originality/value

This is the first paper that outlines the Global Studies curriculum at Graz University.

Citation

Ahamer, G., Kumpfmüller, K.A. and Hohenwarter, M. (2011), "Web‐based exchange of views enhances “Global Studies”", Campus-Wide Information Systems, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 16-40. https://doi.org/10.1108/10650741111097278