Tirado Taipe, Carlos AlbertoWassermann, Johannes Michiel2021-06-252020Tirado Taipe, C.A. & Wassermann, J. 2020, '‘Being at the university is a retreat!’ : a Black female student teacher’s views on the role of the university', International Journal of Lifelong Education, vol. 39, no. 5-6, pp. 495-510. doi : 10.1080/02601370.2020.1812127.0260-1370 (print)1464-519X (online)10.1080/02601370.2020.1812127http://hdl.handle.net/2263/80595This article sets out to understand what the views of Ruvimbo, a Black female student teacher, are on the role of the university, and how and why these views emerged. The social philosophy of higher education of Ronald Barnett was used as a theoretical framework, and arts-informed methods such as drawings and photovoice, were used for data construction. The student teacher recognised the university–knowledge relationship but foregrounded her appreciation of having a safe and pleasant environment, developing cultural tolerance, and developing herself as a human being. Her view contradicts the predominant concern about the transformation and decolonisation of the curriculum in South Africa as a way of attaining epistemic justice, and claim for a more ecological approach to university education.en© 2020 Informa UK limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an electronic version of an article published in International Journal of Lifelong Education, vol. 39, no. 5-6, pp. 495-510, 2020. doi : 10.1080/02601370.2020.1812127. International Journal of Lifelong Education is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tled20.Student teachersTeacher educationStudent voiceUniversity roleArts-informed methodsPostprint Article