Emerita Professor of HRD and Education University of Portsmouth University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom
Abstract: This paper problematizes the dominance of Western-centred research paradigms in current scholarship, including the field of HRD. The paper argues that reliance on Western-centric epistemological assumptions as the basis for knowledge generation may limit the way that individual, collective and societal learning and development are understood, theorized and enacted. The question addressed is: in what ways might non-Western epistemological world-views contribute to richer and more impactful HRD research endeavours? The purpose of this paper is to consider the proposition that interaction between different epistemological perspectives can provide a fruitful narrative from which to craft richer, more inclusive, and culturally sensitive HRD research, scholarship, and education. Implications for HRD research, education and practice are proposed.
