EDUC 705 : Education and Global Policymaking

Education and Social Work

2024 Semester Two (1245) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the following topics and themes: policy analysis and formulation in the context of development; the impact of the globalisation on, and the role of international agencies in, education for development; human capital theory and human resource development; education and aid; research and consultancy strategies and ethics; New Zealand's ODA policy towards Oceania; global and local intersections in Oceanic education.

Course Overview

Education has been considered a key factor for national development in countries around the world.  Colonialism, and later the post-WWII rise of state-led (but externally funded) national development placed education at the core of projects around national identify formation, modernisation of societies/economies, and the integration of 'third world' countries into the global economy.   A vast array of research literature linking educational ideas, structures and processes with social, cultural and economic change has been produced in the decades since. This course examines the nature and role of education within the ‘developing’ world, with a particular focus on the region of which New Zealand is part, Oceania. The theoretical content of the course is derived largely from concepts and models of ‘development’ and globalisation and how these influence educational policy and practice. A key question that guides this course is whether and how education, and more specifically formal schooling, can both contribute to, and work against goals of inclusive, prosperous and just societies globally.   

The course will pay particular attention to the:

  1. Reasons behind the growing importance given to education within international accords and development agendas
  2. Impacts of globalisation on national education systems and policies
  3. The politics of global educational agenda setting and the aid dynamics that follow suit
 A key focus of the course this year is to explore how against the current global context, marked by record numbers of children who have been  forced out of school due to displacement, disease, and disasters, education may have an even more critical important role in ensuring in less than a decade, the global community has met the global commitments signalled under the Sustainable Development Goals.    As part of this we'll give specific attention to the post-colonial and post-development turn, the increasing tensions between globalism and nationalism, the impacts of securitisation agendas in the post-9/11 era, and the calls which are growing for societies to free themselves of histories of racism and bigotry.  In all of this we'll critically explore what form of education might best serve the new world order we find ourselves in, and whether the institution of schooling as has existed in the developed (or 'Global North') world for nearly 200 years,  is  desirable, replicable or relevant on a global scale. 

Course Requirements

Restriction: EDUC 766

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify contestations and debates regarding the role of education towards social, economic and political development for countries in the Global South (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 4)
  2. Evaluate the “Global Education Agenda”—informed in large part by the Sustainable Development goals—and assess its strengths and limitations, as well as the influences it has had on national and international educational policymaking (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Analyse processes of globalisation and localisation and their implications for education policies and practices internationally and/or in a particular context (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Discern identify, and critically evaluate and assess key arguments from academic texts in written form (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  5. Communicate, consult and collaborate to effectively manage time and resources towards completion of a real-world task (Capability 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  6. Describe, analyse and consider the social, cultural, environmental and economic consequences of national and international issues in its relation to education and development (Capability 1, 2 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Online engagement and discussion postings 45% Individual Coursework
Group role play/presentation 25% Group & Individual Coursework
Final essay 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Online engagement and discussion postings
Group role play/presentation
Final essay

To pass this course you need to submit all assessments and achieve at least 50% for the course overall.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 15-20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in.    The course is structured as a series of six 2-week online modules.  The first of each of these two weeks modules is set up for you to engage with the assigned course readings, and to view the pre-recorded short videos.  It is expected that this will take approximately 20 hours of time.  The second week of each module will require you to participate in an online 1 hr discussion session and then to review additional material ahead of submitting a short written discussion post by the end of the second week.  This will take an additional 10 hours of your time.   

Beyond this, you will need to set aside time to work on the group presentation and your final essay (approximately 60 hours in total).  Hence, despite being a fully online course, there is an expectation and requirement that you keep up with the course material and spend the required time needed each week.   

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is required at scheduled online activities including discussion sessions to receive credit components of the course.  The course will include live online events including group discussions and a final presentation. Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement, but additional material will be released progressively throughout the course.  This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All course readings and resources will be made available through the Course Reading list on Canvas and available digitally.   All lecture material will also be made available through Canvas for students to review independently online by the start of each two week block.  

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on previous feedback from students, this course includes opportunities for you to engage with your online peers in two ways:  through the synchronous sessions which take place every two weeks throughout the course, as well as in the group assignment in which you and other peers in the class will develop an online presentation and represent the viewpoints of a specific global policymaking organisation.  Students universally note the benefits of the group assignment, and significant support is provided to ensuring that all students are contributing to this assignment and working collaboratively towards a shared goal.  

Other Information

It is important to contact the course director early should you have issues with internet connectivity or access to IT at home or elsewhere to complete the required coursework. Support is available from the University for students to effectively engage online.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.