Formazione, tecnologia e mercati nel contesto di una multinazionale

The present paper discusses the hypothesis of a new understanding of the traditional and academic paths in the history of science and technology, trying to introduce a multi-sited and multi-centred approach that overtakes the prevalent current narrations. The hypothesis is discussed considering a relevant case study connected with issues in higher education, scientific and technological competencies and global markets. The paper presents the controversies that emerge within a high level training program provided by a multinational corporation operating in the area of energy production, and targeted to local middle eastern operators. The training program in advanced technology and related applicative competences remains framed inside a market oriented strategy, and it responds to logic of asymmetric power typical of a post colonial scenario. The higher education program becomes a pretext to hide persistent cultural and gender prejudices and to enforce existing or newly established relations of subalternity. The presented case study offers also the possibility of discussing an example of re-appropriation and re-signification in the historic and scientific tradition of the West, providing a basis for challenging the hypothesis outlined above.