GED2856

Globalisation and educational policy

Not offered in 1999

Professor F Rizvi

12 points - 3 hours per week - Second semester - Clayton

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to understand some of the ways in which the idea of globalisation has been conceptualised in recent social theory; assess its usefulness in thinking about processes of educational policy making; examine the various ways in which global changes (economic, political, cultural and technological) have been interpreted and taken into account in the development of recent educational policies in Australia and elsewhere; and explore some of the implications of globalisation for the processes of cultural formation and citizenship within the nation state.

Synopsis In recent years, the idea of globalisation has acquired considerable currency in social theory. Much is written these days about 'the global context', and the rhetoric of 'global imperatives' now underpins a host of policy prescriptions in Australia, for example Asian languages and cultures, administrative reform, vocational education and training, higher education. This rhetoric is not however restricted to Australia, but is almost universal. This subject explores the concept of 'globalisation' in order to assess its salience and usefulness in understanding educational policy processes. It examines the various ways in which global changes (economic, political, cultural and technological) are understood and taken into account in policies. It uses case-study material, including studies of OECD's impact on educational policy development in Australia, recent policy changes in Malaysian higher education, and Papua New Guinea's policies of devolution in education, to assess the extent to which policy options at the nation-state level may have already become constrained.

Assessment Research paper (2500 words): 45% - Research report (2500 words): 45% - Tutorial presentations: 10%

Recommended texts

Taylor S, Rizvi F, Lingard B and Henry M Educational policy and the politics of change Routledge, 1997
Walters M Globalization Routledge, 1995

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