Decolonizing Intercultural Education

Intercultural education has long been shaped by Western-centric frameworks, silencing non-Western knowledge and reinforcing colonial power structures. This session challenges that legacy by decolonizing intercultural learning—uncovering hidden biases and amplifying marginalized worldviews. Participants will gain practical tools to critically examine their own perspectives and reshape content creation through a decolonial lens. Using interactive exercises, discussions, and reflection, the session fosters active unlearning and co-creation of inclusive approaches.

Innovatively, it goes beyond theory by integrating decolonial AI critique—addressing how technology perpetuates colonial mindsets while exploring its potential to disrupt biases. By merging participatory methods with actionable strategies, this session offers a transformative space to reimagine intercultural education with equity at its core.

This interactive session invites participants to reimagine intercultural education and learning through decolonial, relational, and Indigenous lenses. Dr. Anjam Chaudhary and Daniela Felletti will share personal journeys and practical strategies for integrating marginalized knowledge systems, such as those of the Maya and Yanomami, into curriculum and programming. Participants will engage in reflective activities, explore ethical integration of diverse epistemologies, and discuss challenges including resistance to change and the role of AI in shaping narratives.
 

• Session Takeaways:
  Open a dialogue in a space that is rarely explored within academic settings.
• Encourage participants to leave the session with a concrete understanding of how they can enhance their communication and behavior in intercultural contexts.
• Inspire new perspectives on ancestral practices by challenging colonial narratives that impose hierarchies on how knowledge is learned and shared.

Session Learning Outcomes:

• Understand and practice the intentional use of narratives in intercultural learning Critically re-think intercultural learning/communication/competence
• Tools and practices implemented to decolonize the power of narratives in intercultural education/learning
• Explore the use of artificial intelligence as a tool for decolonization

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Image blended on canva integrating the artwork background By Jaguatirika, 2023. The Native People, a reinterpretation of Tarsila do Amaral's painting The Workers.