From colonial roots to decolonial futures: Transforming national identity and global engagement in Chilean universities

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Abstract
The paper addresses the critical challenge of decolonising universities in Chile, situating the discourse within the nation's historical trajectory and its engagement with global academic pressures. It examines how Chilean universities, historically central to nation-state-building and reflective of broader Latin American patterns, are now at a crossroads, grappling with the preservation of national identity, engagement with the global knowledge economy, and the need to address epistemic injustices rooted in colonial legacies and neoliberal agendas. Drawing on decolonial theory and Escobar's concept of the pluriverse, the paper reimagines Chilean universities as transformative spaces that resist colonial legacies while promoting inclusivity and equity in curriculum, research, governance, and social engagement. This idea challenges the commodification of education tied to global rankings and envisions a system where local and national identities align with global academic aspirations. The analysis offers nuanced insights into the decolonisation of higher education and proposes a transformative framework for Chilean universities to address these tensions.

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