Balancing the local and global: A review of teaching and learning literature from Colombia

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic review of the extent and nature of teaching and learning research in Colombia. The study identified that teaching and learning research is growing but is unevenly spread amongst a small number of Colombian private and public universities. The quantity of learning and teaching research emerging from a small number of institutions is linked to the presence of education development centres that support the research and dissemination of teaching innovation. The dominance of research related to technology innovation reflects the purpose of these centres. The teaching and learning research literature emerging from these universities reflects global educational themes but contains little of the issues and challenges related to diversity, inequality, and other social, political and economic realities that situates higher education research within local contexts. This study concludes that a critical approach to teaching and learning research is needed to balance the local with the global in teaching and learning research in Colombia.