Search results for "education policy"

The Internet and Online Pedagogy Editorial

2016

What I Talk About When I Talk About Quality

2010

ABSTRACT During the 15 years that Quality in Higher Education has held a focal position in the field of higher education assessment, the concept of quality has evolved from a debatable and controversial concept to an everyday matter in higher education. The author takes a personal look into the development of the field by first tracking the discursive changes in the debate, and then reflecting on the shift of the quality discussion from a matter of political substance debate to a matter of technical implementation. The article finishes with a look into possible futures of the quality revolution.

The Status of Vocational Education and Training

2010

Occupations have been ranked on the basis of their rewards to individuals and value for society. However, the traditional fixed ranking based on social and power hierarchies in societies is blurred in the light of recent shift in conceptions of status, culture, self-fulfillment, and identity. Youngsters' images of occupations are associated with their aspirations for studies and jobs, with qualities of work and people involved in a field, and with family background and parents' opinions. This article focuses on the concept of parity of esteem in youth education and training. Upper secondary education, either general (academic) or vocational, should prepare for higher education or/and workfo…

Europeanisation of VET – the Spanish Vocational Education and Training system and the influence of European education policy

2021

The paper discusses the development of Spanish Vocational Education and Training (VET) over the past four decades and the extent to which and ways in which joining the European Economic Communities...

Education policy in the Republic of Latvia: lessons from experience

2015

The idea for this article proceeds from personal, practical, and emotional experience and reflections on holding the position of the Minister for Education and Science during the period of the economic crisis in Latvia (2007–2010). The article consists of three parts. The first part outlines the potential of a position in power with a particular focus on developments in education policy. The second part gives an overview of the most important initiatives in the education sector undertaken by ministers for education during the first period of independence of the Republic of Latvia (1918–1940). Analyses of developments in the content of education in line with alterations in organisation of st…

ASPECTS OF INEQUALITY IN THE CONTEXT OF EMPLOYMENT OF PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS IN LATVIA

2020

Policy-making in education involves social agents at national, municipal and institutional levels. National regulations and financial capacity of municipalities determine working conditions of teachers and employment aspects at all levels of the education system. For several years, discussions have been taking place in Latvia involving employers of education sector and policy makers on tackling inequalities in pay and workload principles for pre-school teachers. Situation of the pre-school teachers varies across municipalities and is affected by their financial opportunities to sustain educational institutions and ensure teachers’ salaries. In 2019, Latvian Trade Union of Education and Scie…

Compensating inequalities in secondary education in France: studies from the PISA, CEDRE and TALIS surveys

2017

The fight against educational inequality is one of the foundational principles of education in France. Implementing equal opportunity and the fight against social and geographical inequality are inscribed in the first article in the Code of Education. However, educational inequality persists and has continued to increase these past years. Using data sets from threedifferent international and national evaluations (PISA, Cedre, and TALIS), this dissertation seeks to bring a new perspective on the reduction of inequality for students enrolled in secondary education in France.

Higher Education in a Knowledge Society: How to Close the Knowledge Divide

2015

In this chapter, Higher Education in a Knowledge Society: how to close the knowledge divide, Richard Ennals and Hans Christian Garmann Johnsen discuss education policy in UK and Norway, and how national conditions might influence the role that universities take in social development. The new communicative reality: mobilisation and education breaking the institutional barriers. They can be met by initiatives like Quality Circles, or a Penny University. The underlying big problem is to what extent universities are really taking a role in reducing the serious knowledge and education level divide we see in western societies.

National Stories, Convergent Trends and Divergent Paths: Discursive Construction of the Higher Education and Knowledge Society – Nexus in Higher Educ…

2016

Higher education policy texts construct the relationship between higher education and knowledge society. The higher education discourse in Finland, Portugal, Germany, United Kingdom and United States over the last two decades typically presents the knowledge society as either an existing fact or as a desirable development towards which countries should aspire. The convergent discourse emphasises the importance of information and communication technologies, internationalisation, globalisation, and international context for policy making; the importance of research, science and technology, but also education, learning and skills and their role in bringing about the knowledge society. At the s…

Higher Education as Modulator of Gender Inequalities: Evidence of the Spanish Case

2015

Raising educational levels may help to reduce inequalities between men and women in certain social and economic aspects. Using statistics for Spain, we analyse labour market behaviours such as the rates of activity and unemployment by sex according to the educational level. The results reveal that the differences between men and women decrease as the educational level increases. In particular, the modulator effect of education is very important at the higher level, where differences in labour market behaviour between men and women with an university education almost disappear, except in terms of salaries. Nevertheless, it can be seen that the current economic crisis has reduced the modulato…