Anita Pincas

Culture, cognition and communication in global education

This paper is intended to provoke discussion of the complexities brought about by differences in pedagogic and linguistic cultures and the hidden international problems that globalisation of education therefore creates. Worldwide students encounter discourse problems rather than simple language difficulties. Yet their learning is judged by English‐western norms giving high value to criticality as well as ‘Standard English’. It is argued that when online global higher education addresses multi‐cultural issues it needs to include re‐examination of related fundamental presumptions.

The role of musical possible selves in supporting subjective well-being in later life

There is now an accepted need for initiatives that support older peoples well-being. There is increasing evidence that active engagement with music has the potential to contribute to this. This paper explores the relationship between musical possible selves and subjective well-being in later life. The research reported here formed part of a larger project that focused on how active music-making could support positive cognitive, social and emotional outcomes. The research comprised three UK case study sites, each offering diverse musical activities. A sample aged 50+ (total N = 398), some of whom were novices and others who are more experienced, was recruited to complete questionnaires that included open questions and measures of well-being. In addition, individual interviews (n = 29) and focus groups (n = 15) were carried out, where participants in musical activities reflected on the meaning and function of music-making in their lives. The interpretation presented here suggests that through music many older people found a means by which they were able to formulate well-understood and highly esteemed versions of their possible future selves. This, in turn, may have been a significant factor in helping to navigate the process of ageing in later life with enhanced subjective well-being, including a sense of purpose, a significant degree of autonomy and a strong sense of social affirmation.