Global Issues in Education

Mawer Kim Gisela (Graduate School of Human Sciences)

Course Objective
   This course will critically examine issues concerning contemporary higher education characterised by increased global connectivity, competition and collaboration. Throughout the course students will learn about and deepen their understanding of current conditions of universities around the world by addressing such topics as heightened mobility of students and scholars,  the prevalence of the worl university rankings and global competition among universities as well as  increased regional coordination and standardisation. In addition, the course will address the rise of global shadow education to discuss the increasing  strife around the world for higher education credentials and its influence on the institution of schooling. Students will thereby learn about issues surrounding credential inflation and the massification of (higher) education.

Learning Goals
   Students will be expected to use the aquired knowledge to explain how universities deal with new conditions associated with globalization. At the end of the course they should also be able to identify the social forces that define changes in the traditional roles and expectations of higher education and assess the impact of globalization on local structures of higher education. Students should also be capable of applying the theoretical frameworks studied in the course to phenomena related to globalization of higher education.

Class Plan

Type of Class
   Seminar Subject

Independent Study Outside of Class
   Students will be required to do the readings provided for each class. For each class, students are required to write a brief (one page) feedback sheet as homework. At the end of the course, a final report will be assigned.

Textbooks
   Readings and additional materials will be provided in class

Grading Policy
   class participation and homework: 30%; mid-term presentation: 30%; Term paper: 40%