EQ203

Year 2

Core Module BA Education Studies

Term 2

10 Weeks

3 Hours

15 CATS

3 Hour Exam

What is this module about?

This module will explore models, concepts and themes relating to the globalisation of education. In particular, there are two general trends outlined and critically examined with reference to globalisation.

The first overarching theme is the idea of globalisation as a process of global standardisation. The module will pick up on a number of debates and issues relating to how attempts have been made to homogenise education globally, or at least move towards more universal provision at a number of different levels. This will involve analyses of the political and economic dimensions of globalisation as it affects education including the involvement of supra-national organisations, NGOs, and nation states.

The second dominant theme is the emphasis on global diversity. Attempts at globalising education come up against political and cultural obstacles. The second half of the module will focus more on trends and cases of education and schooling that highlight the diversity of provision, and practices within education. The sessions will refer to global and national policy contexts where relevant, as well as pick up on novel attempts to provide education and schooling in contexts of political and economic adversity.

Topics covered:

• Globalisation: a conceptual discussion
• Education and schooling as global standards
• Global trends in the eary years
• The student as a global citizen
• Global diversity – obstacles and differences
• Child labour and schooling
• Case studies, including: schooling and 'left behind' children in China; the introduction of early years education in Ghana; children, politics and education in South Africa; the rise of faith schools; civil war and the fractured provision of schooling; and children, schooling and the AIDS pandemic

Learning outcomes:

• Develop an informed understanding of the nature of education in a global context
• Have a deeper knowledge of the conceptual issues surrounding globalisation as applied to education
• Examine the impact of globalisation on education and schooling
• Engage with literature on the local responses to globalisation as it relates to schooling and education
• Focus on political, economic and institutional dimensions of globalisation as they apply to education

Sample reading list:

Ritzer, G. (2010). Globalization – A Basic Text, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

McMahon, M. (2009) Internation Education: Educating for a Global Future, Dunedin

Hevener Kaufman, N and Rizzini, I. (eds) (2002) Globalization and children: exploring potentials for enhancing opportunities in the lives of children and youth, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers

J. Boyden and M. Bourdillon (eds) (2012) Childhood Poverty: Multi-Disciplinary Approaches, Basingstoke: Blackwell

Fenton, Steve (1999) Ethnicity – Racism, Class and Culture, Basingstoke, MacMillan

Faas, D. et al (2014) Intercultural education in Europe: policies, practices and trends, British Educational Research Journal, 40, 2 pp: 300-18.

Brooks, R. and Waters, J. (2011) Student Mobilities, Migration and the Internationalisation of Higher Education, Palgrave

Adams L. and Krova A. (2009) Global Migration and Education, Palgrave

Bourdillon, M. (2006) Children and work: a review of current literature and debates, Development and Change, 37, 6, pp: 1201-1226

Tsegaye, S. (2009) Orphanhood in Africa: Old Problems and New Faces, African Child Policy Forum