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Education, Race and Ethnicity: Inequalities in Europe

  • Year 2 - 15 CATS - OPTIONAL CORE or OPTIONAL module
  • Year 3 - 15 CATS - OPTIONAL module
  • Year 4 (intercalated degree) - 15 CATS - OPTIONAL module

What is this module about?

Co-taught with the Centre for Lifelong Learning

This module explores the links between race, ethnicity and educational inequalities in Europe and will enhance your knowledge of how race and ethnicity are conceptualised in education in different national contexts. You will explore the complexities of racial and ethnic inequalities and the way they impact on the education of particular populations and facilitate a comparative analysis of different educational approaches to diversity and their application in practice. You will also explore the ways in which race and ethnicity intersect with gender and faith to shape educational experiences and outcomes.

Topics covered:

  • Inequalities in education
  • ‘Race’ and ethnicity in education: a historical and comparative approach
  • Exploring contrasting European policy frameworks: regulations, directives and acts on diversity in education
  • Case study I: UK
  • Case study II: France
  • Student led session on selected topics
  • Case studies III: Gypsy, Roma Traveller
  • Case studies IV: Scandinavia
  • Diaspora & Education
  • Student presentations and conclusions


Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module you are expected to:

  • Understand the key concepts of ‘race’ and ethnicity and recognize their link with educational inequalities in selected European countries;
  • Identify different ways of conceptualising ‘race’ and ethnicity in European educational systems and understand their development and applications over time
  • Understand and be able to analyse the various and complex ways in which inequalities of ‘race’ and ethnicity impact on the educational outcomes of particular populations
  • Be able to contextualise and critically compare policies and practice in relation to diversity in education in specific national and European frameworks;
  • Understand the intersection between ‘race’/ethnicity, gender and faith in particular European educational systems and the impact of intersecting inequalities on particular populations.

Contact time:

The module will consist of 10 x 1-hour lectures and 10 x 2-hour seminars

Assesment:

An in-class presentation (20%) plus one coursework essay of 2,500 words related to the topic of the in-class presentation (80%)

Sample reading list:

Archer, Louise and Becky Francis (2007) Understanding Minority Ethnic Achievement – Race, Gender class and ‘success’, Abingdon: Routledge.

Bochaca, J. G. (2006). Ethnic minorities and the Spanish and Catalan educational systems - from exclusion to intercultural education, International Journal of Intercultural Relations 30:

261-279.

Carrera, Sergio and Geyer, Florian (2009) EU Policy on Education: the Impact on the Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups, CEPS Special Report, 2009.

Horst, Christian (2010) Intercultural Education in Denmark - A Report to International Alliance of Leading Educational Institutes (IALEI). Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Denmark

Law, I. and Swann, S. (2011) Ethnicity and Education in England and Europe: gangstas, geeks and gorjas, Farnham: Ashgate.

Molnar, Emilia and Csaba Dupcsik (2008) Country Report on Education: Hungary, EDUMIGROM Background papers, Center For Policy Studies, Central European University.

NUS (2011) Race for Equality- A report on the experiences of Black students in further and higher education, London: National Union of Students

Sedgwick, Mark (ed) (2015) Making European Muslims – Religious Socialization among Young Muslims in Scandinavia and Western Europe, New York: Routledge

Schiff, Claire et al (2008) Country Report on Education: France, EDUMIGROM Background papers, Center For Policy Studies, Central European University.

Szalai, Julia, ed. (2011) Contested Issues of Social Inclusion through Education in Multiethnic Communities across Europe EDUMIGROM Final Study, Budapest: Central European University, Center for Policy Studies

Tomlinson, Sally (2009) Race and Education – Policy and politics in Britain, Maidenhead: Open University Press

Walters, S. (2012) Ethnicity, race and education : an introduction, New York: Continuum

Vertovec, S., Wessendorf, S. (Eds.) (2010). Multiculturalism Backlash – European Discourses, Policies and Practices. Routledge, London.