Pachamama—La Universidad del ‘Buen
Vivir’: A First Nations Sustainability
University in Latin America
Susanne Maria Weber and Maria Alejandra Tascón
Abstract The alternative development paradigm, ‘Buen Vivir’, positions community perspectives as the core of its vision. As an alternative to an (anthropocentric)
vision it offers an inclusive socio-ecological idea, which regards ‘Mother Earth’
(called Pachamama) as a being with its own rights. This alternative vision puts ecological, socio-cultural, spiritual and political dimensions of an alternative path of
development into play and suggests a new ethics of development. Based on the
concept of ‘Buen Vivir’, indigenous educational concepts of Higher Education are
developing and emerging, applying project-based learning methods. Topics for a
sustainability university relate to the fields of water resources, coffee, sustainable
nutrition, arts etc., as well as collective decision making, education, etc. In this
vision, global solidarity for sustainable development supports ecosystem development and sustainable development. It develops studies in solidarity economy, water
sustainability, Fair Trade and sustainable education. The paper begins with critiques
and the global search for alternatives (1), and shifts to introduce the ‘Buen Vivir’
approach (2). In a third chapter, the state of the art of alternative and indigenous
universities in Latin America will be addressed (3). In the fourth and final chapter,
elements of the developmental vision of an intercultural and transcontinental Fair
Trade University—the Universidad “Pachamama” will be presented (4).
Keywords Buen Vivir · Higher Education · Education for Sustainable
Development · Fair Trade University · First Nation University
S. M. Weber (B) · M. A. Tascón
Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
e-mail: Susanne.maria.weber@uni-marburg.de
M. A. Tascón
e-mail: pachamamaconnexion@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_52
849
Vivir’: A First Nations Sustainability
University in Latin America
Susanne Maria Weber and Maria Alejandra Tascón
Abstract The alternative development paradigm, ‘Buen Vivir’, positions community perspectives as the core of its vision. As an alternative to an (anthropocentric)
vision it offers an inclusive socio-ecological idea, which regards ‘Mother Earth’
(called Pachamama) as a being with its own rights. This alternative vision puts ecological, socio-cultural, spiritual and political dimensions of an alternative path of
development into play and suggests a new ethics of development. Based on the
concept of ‘Buen Vivir’, indigenous educational concepts of Higher Education are
developing and emerging, applying project-based learning methods. Topics for a
sustainability university relate to the fields of water resources, coffee, sustainable
nutrition, arts etc., as well as collective decision making, education, etc. In this
vision, global solidarity for sustainable development supports ecosystem development and sustainable development. It develops studies in solidarity economy, water
sustainability, Fair Trade and sustainable education. The paper begins with critiques
and the global search for alternatives (1), and shifts to introduce the ‘Buen Vivir’
approach (2). In a third chapter, the state of the art of alternative and indigenous
universities in Latin America will be addressed (3). In the fourth and final chapter,
elements of the developmental vision of an intercultural and transcontinental Fair
Trade University—the Universidad “Pachamama” will be presented (4).
Keywords Buen Vivir · Higher Education · Education for Sustainable
Development · Fair Trade University · First Nation University
S. M. Weber (B) · M. A. Tascón
Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
e-mail: Susanne.maria.weber@uni-marburg.de
M. A. Tascón
e-mail: pachamamaconnexion@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
W. Leal Filho et al. (eds.), Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development,
World Sustainability Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15604-6_52
849