The Eurovision University Study Unit and its pedagogic value: A critical evaluation of public and media reaction towards innovation in higher education
Journal Title: International Journal of Higher Education Pedagogies - Year 2022, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
In 2016 the University of Malta launched a study unit called âInterpreting Music Culture: Multimodality and the Eurovisionâ. The course intended to serve as a first step through which higher education students would move away from looking at the Eurovision Song Contest annually attracting 161 million viewers around the globe as purely entertaining. Instead, the study unit aimed to help students critically analyse these music-related texts at deeper pedagogic levels. After a couple of minutes from the launch of the study unit, a widespread public reaction developed. The media and the general public commented, asked about, ridiculed and criticised the fact that a well-famed formal higher education institution could come up with such an idea. Many asked the pertinent question: What should a well acclaimed serious higher education institution (i.e. University) accept to teach and what not? Adopting a thematic approach this paper intends to answer this main research question through the evaluation of qualitative data based on the comments and reactions towards the launch of the Eurovision study unit, collected from social media and local and international press. As an outcome, the main conclusion of this paper suggests that people in Malta still frequently adopt limited definitions of higher education which do not include the perspective of higher education institutions as sources where mundane popular and authentic texts such as the Eurovision can be used as valuable pedagogic texts. The paper proactively presents four suggestions through which hopefully, gradual change towards a more comprehensive definition of higher education institutions could be initiated.
Authors and Affiliations
George Cremona,
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP745518
- DOI https://doi.org/10.33422/ijhep.v3i1.184
- Views 32
- Downloads 0
Psychosocial Well-Being among Undergraduate Students in Hong Kong and Kazakhstan
This paper aims to provide comparative insights into the psychosocial well-being of Hong Kong and Kazakhstan undergraduate students, focusing specifically on the role of ethnicity and gender. The existing body of literat...
An Investigation of the Enigmas and Accessibility of Academic Literature, Writing, and Peer Review
Novice researchers and postgraduate students have traditionally viewed the systematic method of writing as opaque, difficult, untidy, and tedious. This research investigated the enigmas and accessibility associated with...
Embracing Diversity: Rethinking Inclusive Education at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
This qualitative study, employing focus group discussions as the primary research method, delves into the imperative of inclusive education at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), aligning with its "Benilde fo...
Interrogating Pedagogical Modalities: An In-depth Examination of the Lecture Method in Higher Education
The prevalence of the lecture method in university education prompts an inquiry into its adoption, whether driven by demonstrated effectiveness or individual instructor preferences. This study aims to elucidate critical...
Discussion Forums as a Learning Material in Higher Education Institutions
Discussion forums, which have more features among the tools used in the online group discussion process, are the most preferred learning tool in this process. Instructors, from elementary school to college often use onli...