Interculturality and Communitarianism in Higher Education: the Bluefields Indian & Caribbean University experience

Abstract

The quality of higher education has always been a controversial issue at the time of its discussion, if to this reality we add the integration of interculturalism and communitarianism as essential elements in the formation of the new professional, transcending the traditional technical education through a holistic vision. From this reality, what we know today as community universities with an intercultural approach is born. Nicaragua is not the exception with the presence of the BICU and URACCAN universities, both interesting cases of studying. It is from this experience that this review paper has been prepared in which the origins of this type of universities are addressed, the local, regional, national and international legal base that supports the need not only for its creation but also for its consolidation and expansion. This allows the presentation of an integrating and comprehensive conceptualization of what is a Community and Intercultural University that meets the needs of technical and professional training of its students, teachers and population without neglecting the quality of education that integrates the knowledge and ancestral knowledge of historically marginalized peoples.