Navigating Complex Challenges in GHE: Reflections on the GlobalEd Early Career Research Fellowship

Abstract

This article reflects on the GlobalEd Early Career Research Fellowship's capacity to create supportive environments where Fellows address pressing issues at the intersection of theory and practice. By emphasizing the importance of breaking down disciplinary silos, the program encourages the cross-pollination of ideas from fields such as artificial intelligence, global health, and critical theory, thereby generating new knowledge and frameworks for understanding contemporary educational challenges. The Fellowship’s praxis-oriented focus enables participants to infuse their course designs with the latest theoretical insights and practical applications, equipping them with the tools to enact institutional change. Gaps in the existing literature on faculty development in GHE are acknowledged, particularly concerning decolonial and transformative frameworks. Such reflections underscore the need for a more equitable approach to professional development that considers systemic inequities in higher education. As the ECRF responds to these needs, it promotes essential values of epistemic plurality and inclusivity. Ultimately, this piece advocates for collaborative efforts in GHE that embrace innovative pedagogies, thus empowering stakeholders to address the multifaceted challenges facing the field and to foster educational practices that are both equitable and transformative.