Developing a Christian Academic Community in Asia/Oceania

October 2002

Track 1: Identify difficulties and challenges facing distinctively Christian higher education, such as conflicting faith traditions, various economic conditions, and diverse political situations.

Chair: Dr. John C. Vander Stelt, Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA, USA

********

Track 2: Provide serviceable insight for Christian elementary and secondary education with respect to curriculum, pedagogy, administration, and teacher education.

Chair: Dr. John Van Dyk, Center for Educational Services, Dordt College, Sioux Center, IA, USA

Track 1: Report on Discussion

Reporter: Dr. Kuk-Won Shin, Chongshin University, Seoul, Korea

1. Issues related to principles of Christian Higher Education (CHE)

a.       What is CHE—in Asia/Oceania? Relation between CHE and secular higher education—liberal arts, vocational, and Christian worldview.

b.      How to implement CHE, i.e., with respect to establishing it as well as maintaining it, especially in connection with the standard of excellence of/for CHE?

c.       The meaning of and relationships between “theology,” “church,” and “CHE.”

Does CHE presuppose regeneration or does CHE produce it?

The meaning of “religion” and “spirituality”?

What are really the cause and the goal of CHE?

2. Issues related to context(s) of CHE

a.       How are shifts in culture and historical developments related to CHE—especially the relation between CHE in the West and CHE outside the West?

b.      Struggle(s) for survival—how do global and local changes and challenges affect CHE?

c.       ‘Religious’ pluralism and need for comparative and cross-cultural studies of religion.

3. Issues related to the practice of CHE

a.       The transforming impact(s) of CHE—especially with respect to socio-economic and political, as well as gender issues.

b.      Institutional issues—e.g. accreditation, commercialization of education, size and quality of institution, leadership, faculty development program, admission policies, institutional expression/manifestation.

c.       Pedagogical changes.

d.      “Theological” issues—evangelization through CHE?

e.       Idea and practice of a “hidden curriculum” (cf. Dr. Son, Bong Ho’s article)

Available resources to deal with challenges of and to promote CHE

1. Talents, gifts, skills

2. Materials -- buildings, machines, equipment

3. Books, journals, publications

4. Faculty, teachers, students

5. Sharing -- dialogue with fellow educators and scholars

6. Education program, curriculum, etc.

7. Electronic equipment

8. Diverse experiences, different cultures

9. Insights

10. Community life—dialogue with also administrators, supporters

11. Natural and technological resources

12. Original study materials -- the Scriptures

13. System

14. Research, scholarship, databases

15. Network(s) of individuals, institutions, and nations (e.g., IAPCHE)

16. Perspectives or worldviews

17. Christian values and Christian maturity

18. Funding

19. Technology in general

Track 1: Proposals from the Strategy Session

1. Hold a conference within next three years to deal with the topic of CHE in multi-cultural, multi-religious context(s).

2. Preparatory committee, to be convened by the regional advisor of Asia/Oceania, Dr. Son, Bong Ho, and the IAPCHE Board member, Dr. Shin, Kuk Won, be established to implement proposal 1.

3. IAPCHE take note of suggestions 1-12 on the paper India presented at the conference Click here for India Proposals.

4. IAPCHE address such issues as (a) reforming institutions of CHE, (b) providing learning materials or modules as guides, (c) devising trainer’s program for trainers, (d) advise on new ways of learning.

5. IAPCHE reflect on role of CHE with respect to transforming society.

6. This conference endorses projects 1 and 2 IAPCHE adopted in 2000 as stated in its present pamphlet.

Click here for Christian Academic Studies Certificate.

Click here for Faith and Learning Network.

7. Summary of conference papers be published in Contact.

8. IAPCHE pays special attention to the need to establish and maintain CHE in the countries where Christianity is a minority religion.

9. IAPCHE assists in developing a workable philosophy of CHE in the Asia/Oceania context.

Track 2: Proposals from the Strategy Session

Reporter: Dr. Doug Blomberg, Educational Consultant, Montrose, Victoria, Australia

Participants in this discussion seek

Electronic provision of courses for graduate and undergraduate credit
Inter-campus study opportunities and credit transfer arrangements
Links between courses and institutions, including partnerships between teacher education colleges (member and non-member), regionally and internationally
A training module in values education

and in light of these needs, endorse the Christian Academic Studies Certificate project.

Provision of information and recommendations about bibliographic and internet resources (including links to websites), and encourage members to contribute to this provision

and hence endorse the Faith and Learning Network project.

Continuation of regional and international conferences, which
- Require participants to raise funds for conferences and other projects
- Promote continual feedback from participants to monitor outcomes and contribute to further action at their own sites and in subsequent conferences
Active pursuit of contacts with institutions in other countries in the region not represented at the conference
Inclusion of other interest groups (e.g., business, theology, education—such as Association of Christian Schools International)
A network of regional coordinators
Gathering of information by national groups concerning relevant Christian organizations to effect more direct communication between the IAPCHE Board and each country
Cooperation at the national level to organize workshops with teachers
Mailing lists and newsgroups, with moderators, for educators
Networking with missionary organizations regarding educational needs and opportunities, with respect especially to Missionary Kids and a vision for day school education
Opportunities for non-formal education for people in underprivileged circumstances
Leadership enablement activities, in collaboration with local organizations, through courses, workshops and conversations
Promotion of educational research addressing local needs and problems