Story Behind the Research: Meet Anaïs Georges, Exploring Colonial Dynamics in North-South Higher Education Partnerships!

Anaïs recently joined the UniPID DocNet and shares her journey as a PhD researcher and how she became curious about the colonial dynamics reproduced in academic partnerships. From her contribution to a GINTL-UniPID intitiative to her academic visit to the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies of the University of Johannesburg, Anaïs takes us through her inspiring and thought-provoking path in academia.

Hi, my name is Anaïs Georges and I am a doctoral researcher in the Doctoral Programme in School, Education, Society and Culture of the University of Helsinki. My PhD research investigates coloniality of time in North-South higher education partnerships. I study the interconnections between temporal dynamics and equity challenges in partnerships between Global North and Global South higher education institutions. The objective is to understand how colonial temporalities impact North-South higher education partnerships and how partnership temporal dynamics could be decolonised to foster more equitable collaboration.

Studying five years abroad in four different countries and experiencing different education systems sparked my interest for international cooperation in the field of education. During my master’s studies in Education and Globalisation at the University of Oulu, I developed a more specific interest for internationalisation of higher education and research. I wrote my master’s thesis as part of a joint initiative of the Global Innovation Network for Teaching and Learning (GINTL) and UniPID aiming at strengthening responsible collaboration between Finnish and African higher education institutions. Taking part in this research project was a deeply inspiring experience and convinced me that equitable collaboration between Global North and Global South higher education institutions, and more specifically between European and African higher education institutions, opens immense possibilities for mutual learning and knowledge co-creation to address global social justice and sustainability challenges. One of the conclusions of my thesis was that, although temporal dynamics play a crucial role in higher education partnerships, their impact on equity in North-South academic collaboration has been little investigated. I therefore decided that I wanted to conduct PhD research on that topic.

I would describe myself as a curious person who enjoys having new experiences and discovering new perspectives, ways of living and thinking. Research inspires me because it challenges me to continually question my preconceived ideas, think critically and be reflexive about my own positionality. As a PhD researcher, in moments when I am stuck in my ways, there is always a reading, a course, or a discussion to encourage me to explore alternative ways of seeing things. Participating in the International Education Association of South Africa conference last year was a particularly inspiring experience as it allowed me to learn more about higher education internationalisation research conducted by researchers from South Africa and other parts of the world and to receive valuable feedback on my research from them. Spending one month at the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies of the University of Johannesburg also allowed me to deepen my understanding of internationalisation and international partnerships in the South African higher education context, which is part of the focus of my research, and sparked new questions, realisations and ideas that will enrich my research.

In my free time, I like walking, reading, attending cultural events like dance or theatre performances and watching movies. I enjoy these activities because they allow me to find inspiration, learn and explore new perspectives. One of the movies that I recently found very insightful for my research is 'The Monk and The Gun' (Pawo Choyning Dorji, 2024). Through a story that takes place during Bhutan’s transition to democracy, this movie questions modern Western ways of living and thinking and makes the audience reflect on what kind of change can foster more solidarity, peace and happiness.

I am thankful for the opportunity to join the UniPID doctoral network and I am looking forward to connecting with new people, exchanging ideas and participating in DocNet activities!

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Thank you, Anaïs, for sharing your story. It’s a real honour to be part of your journey and academic pursuits.

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Photo credits: Zoha Gohar, 2025 on UnSplash.