Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?

One of the main activities of the International Institute of Sociology of Law (IISL) is its International Master’s program in Sociology of Law. This program is highly innovative, in that rather than having any in-house teachers, the program is delivered by leading scholars from around the world. In...

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Main Authors: Angela L. Melville, Susana Arrese Murguzur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oñati International Institute for the Sociology of Law 2015-06-01
Series:Oñati Socio-Legal Series
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Online Access:https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/598
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author Angela L. Melville
Susana Arrese Murguzur
author_facet Angela L. Melville
Susana Arrese Murguzur
author_sort Angela L. Melville
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description One of the main activities of the International Institute of Sociology of Law (IISL) is its International Master’s program in Sociology of Law. This program is highly innovative, in that rather than having any in-house teachers, the program is delivered by leading scholars from around the world. In 2014, the IISL celebrated its 25th anniversary, which provided an ideal opportunity to reflect upon the Master’s program. Teachers were invited to provide their views on teaching at the IISL, and the strongest theme that emerged was student diversity. This paper considers why student diversity struck teachers so strongly, and how has the IISL achieved such a highly diverse student body. It then explores teachers’ perceptions of diversity, revealing responses ranging from seeing diversity as a barrier to embracing diversity as enriching for students and teachers alike. Teaching was largely conceived as a form of ‘engaged pedagogy’ (hooks 1994), which involved drawing on a genuine dialogue with students, embracing multiple perspectives, challenging that challenge hegemonic understandings of sociology of law, and interaction beyond the classroom walls. We argue that this model of teaching produces a global community of cosmopolitan, reflective, self-aware, critical, culturally sensitive and caring sociology of law scholars. Una de las actividades principales del Instituto Internacional de Sociología Jurídica (IISJ) es su programa de Master Internacional en Sociología Jurídica. Este programa es muy innovador, en él, en lugar de tener profesores propios, son destacados académicos de todo el mundo los que imparten el programa. En 2014, el IISJ celebró su 25 aniversario, lo que supuso una oportunidad ideal para reflexionar sobre el programa de Master. Se invitó a los profesores a que ofrecieran su punto de vista sobre la enseñanza en el IISJ, y el tema más importante que surgió fue la diversidad del alumnado. En este trabajo se analiza por qué la diversidad del alumnado llamó la atención de los profesores, y cómo ha logrado el IISJ un alumnado tan diverso. A continuación, explora las percepciones de los profesores sobre la diversidad, mostrando respuestas que van desde ver la diversidad como una barrera, hasta contemplar la diversidad como enriquecedora para estudiantes y profesores. En gran medida, la enseñanza se concibió como una forma de "pedagogía comprometida" (hooks 1994), que implicaba establecer un verdadero diálogo con los estudiantes desde múltiples perspectivas, desafiando la visión hegemónica de la sociología jurídica, y continuar la interacción más allá de las paredes del aula. Se defiende que este modelo de enseñanza produce una comunidad global académicos sociojurídicos cosmopolitas, reflexivos, conscientes de sí mismos, críticos, culturalmente sensibles y solidarios. DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2805941
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spelling doaj-art-beac5cb1db8d4098876313ed4fa8a24b2025-08-20T02:27:55ZengOñati International Institute for the Sociology of LawOñati Socio-Legal Series2079-59712015-06-0163565Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?Angela L. Melville0Susana Arrese Murguzur1Flinders Law School, Flinders UniversityInternational Institute for the Sociology of Law One of the main activities of the International Institute of Sociology of Law (IISL) is its International Master’s program in Sociology of Law. This program is highly innovative, in that rather than having any in-house teachers, the program is delivered by leading scholars from around the world. In 2014, the IISL celebrated its 25th anniversary, which provided an ideal opportunity to reflect upon the Master’s program. Teachers were invited to provide their views on teaching at the IISL, and the strongest theme that emerged was student diversity. This paper considers why student diversity struck teachers so strongly, and how has the IISL achieved such a highly diverse student body. It then explores teachers’ perceptions of diversity, revealing responses ranging from seeing diversity as a barrier to embracing diversity as enriching for students and teachers alike. Teaching was largely conceived as a form of ‘engaged pedagogy’ (hooks 1994), which involved drawing on a genuine dialogue with students, embracing multiple perspectives, challenging that challenge hegemonic understandings of sociology of law, and interaction beyond the classroom walls. We argue that this model of teaching produces a global community of cosmopolitan, reflective, self-aware, critical, culturally sensitive and caring sociology of law scholars. Una de las actividades principales del Instituto Internacional de Sociología Jurídica (IISJ) es su programa de Master Internacional en Sociología Jurídica. Este programa es muy innovador, en él, en lugar de tener profesores propios, son destacados académicos de todo el mundo los que imparten el programa. En 2014, el IISJ celebró su 25 aniversario, lo que supuso una oportunidad ideal para reflexionar sobre el programa de Master. Se invitó a los profesores a que ofrecieran su punto de vista sobre la enseñanza en el IISJ, y el tema más importante que surgió fue la diversidad del alumnado. En este trabajo se analiza por qué la diversidad del alumnado llamó la atención de los profesores, y cómo ha logrado el IISJ un alumnado tan diverso. A continuación, explora las percepciones de los profesores sobre la diversidad, mostrando respuestas que van desde ver la diversidad como una barrera, hasta contemplar la diversidad como enriquecedora para estudiantes y profesores. En gran medida, la enseñanza se concibió como una forma de "pedagogía comprometida" (hooks 1994), que implicaba establecer un verdadero diálogo con los estudiantes desde múltiples perspectivas, desafiando la visión hegemónica de la sociología jurídica, y continuar la interacción más allá de las paredes del aula. Se defiende que este modelo de enseñanza produce una comunidad global académicos sociojurídicos cosmopolitas, reflexivos, conscientes de sí mismos, críticos, culturalmente sensibles y solidarios. DOWNLOAD THIS PAPER FROM SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2805941 https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/598Engaged pedagogystudent diversityinternationalisationglobalisationsociology of lawlegal education
spellingShingle Angela L. Melville
Susana Arrese Murguzur
Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?
Oñati Socio-Legal Series
Engaged pedagogy
student diversity
internationalisation
globalisation
sociology of law
legal education
title Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?
title_full Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?
title_fullStr Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?
title_short Perceptions of Teachers at the International Institute of Sociology of Law of International Student Diversity: Barriers, Enrichment or Cosmopolitan Learning?
title_sort perceptions of teachers at the international institute of sociology of law of international student diversity barriers enrichment or cosmopolitan learning
topic Engaged pedagogy
student diversity
internationalisation
globalisation
sociology of law
legal education
url https://opo.iisj.net/index.php/osls/article/view/598
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