Paper short abstract:

The thesis aims to describe and understand how academics comprehend factors that influence processes of educational change in higher education in Chile, using a biographical approach. Emerging topics are faculty history events, university vision and values, identity elements and leadership notions.

Paper long abstract:

The thesis is focused on describing and understanding how teachers comprehend factors that influence processes of curriculum and pedagogical change in higher education, using a biographical approach. The research is focused on recording the narratives of individuals involved in a specific process of change at the Nursing School of Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; the institutionalization of a Service Learning educational approach. The aim is to re-create the past 15 years of this higher education school through a 'collective memory'.

The study is being conducted using an inductive and interpretative approach, and is based on biographical methodology and narrative inquiry. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with academics and university staff; these interviews will be drawn upon to develop personal narratives. Each narrative will address school context, the views of members of the university community who were involved in the process, and the nature of pedagogical practices through time.

The analysis will focus on reasons and procedures for change, identifying common themes and cultural aspects of the school in the narratives, aiming to create a 'collective memory' of the studied period. Some emerging topics are key faculty history events, university vision and values, identity elements - e.g. discipline and the role of the nurse, and notions of leadership.