The contributions of George Snyders for university pedagogy

Abstract

This article results from a post-doctoral research that involved investigations of bibliographic nature under the perspective of pedagogical thinking of French educator Georges Snyders (1917-2011). It is aimed at presenting the contribution potential of Snyders’ theories, particularly regarding the issue of knowledge taught and joy in learning in order to derive benefits for the field of university pedagogy. Such pedagogy is involved in the current challenges faced by higher education. This aim arises from the following problem question: how can Snyders’ assumptions, especially the concepts of knowledge and joy in learning, add up to the discussions of the field of university pedagogy? To reach such aim, the following issues are addressed: the university pedagogy in the educational and social panorama of new demands presented to the university and its faculty; theoretical foundations of Snyders’ progressive pedagogy, precisely the concepts of knowledge taught and joy; and also the possibilities of contributions of Snyders’ pedagogical positioning towards the renewal of knowledge and joy in learning at university. The development of this discussion is guided by the perspective of educationally qualifying the formative action in higher education. This action is committed to the qualitative improvement of human formation and professional qualification of students.