Judith Walker

Time as the Fourth Dimension in the Globalization of Higher Education

This paper calls for an analysis of time to be integrated into the theories on the globalization of higher education. Specifically, the author argues that academic capitalism, fuelled by globalization, has led to changes in the university visible in time/space compression, time acceleration, the reification of time and our internalization of the importance of managing time in a justifiable and successful manner.

The inclusion and construction of the worthy citizen through lifelong learning: a focus on the OECD

This paper argues that underlying the OECD’s promotion of inclusion in, for and through lifelong learning is the notion of an ‘active citizen’ who establishes their worth through learning and, ultimately, competence. Through the critical examination of recent OECD policy documents on adult and lifelong learning, the paper also calls for a re‐examination of the purported goals of inclusion and participation, essential elements of ‘inclusive liberalism’.

Educating for a high skills society? The landscape of federal employment, training and lifelong learning policy in Canada

Government reports and documents claim that building a knowledge economy and innovative society are key goals in Canada. In this paper, we draw on critical policy analysis to examine 10 Canadian federal government training and employment policies in relation to the governments espoused priorities of innovation and developing a high skills society and economy. Our findings highlight three areas of contradiction: a tension between high skills and low skills policy, a contradictory focus on the socially and economically excluded and included, and the paradox of both an active and passive federal government. Drawing on state theories such as inclusive liberalism and the social investment state, we argue that while a ‘highly skilled knowledge economy’ may form part of the overall skills discourse, these contradictions raise doubts that it is to become a reality in Canada in the near future.

The media construction of an adult literacy agenda in Canada

This paper explores the role of media in shaping adult literacy discourse and policy in Canada. The authors show how journalists, newspapers and other media personalities have directly and indirectly influenced (1) government and public perception of adult literacy and (2) the creation of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Developments (OECD) International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). Overall, the paper points to the crucial role of the media in the transnationalisation of government agendas and policy discourse.

Going for gold in 2010: an analysis of British Columbia’s literacy goal

This paper examines a recent government initiative aimed at raising adult literacy levels across the Canadian province of British Columbia by 2010. Through analysis of policy documents and interviews conducted with policymakers, analysts, researchers and practitioners, the author argues that the current focus on adult literacy in British Columbia can best be understood as part of a broader agenda of promoting lifelong learning for the knowledge economy and global competition. The findings show that like the Olympic Games themselves set to occur in the province in 2010, literacy has come to be seen as a contest, where there are winners and losers, participants and non‐participants. Nonetheless, the findings also suggest that there exist unique possibilities and opportunities for community development and civic engagement through a campaign that has increasing literacy rates as its main objective.

Creating an LNG Ready Worker: British Columbia's Blueprint for Extraction Education.

ABSTRACT Since 2011, the government of British Columbia (BC) has focused on building the Canadian province’s economy through the development of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector. In service of this endeavour, the government launched the Skills for Jobs Blueprint, which attempts to more clearly align BC’s education system with resource extraction industries. In this paper, I argue that at the heart of this policy is the idea of education for, through, and as extraction. Conceptually, ‘extraction education’ focuses on supply (what we can take out of the earth, institutions, and individuals) rather than demand (what is needed to put into the educational system to meet needs of the land, institutions, communities, and individuals), and is problematic on environmental, economic, employment, equity, and educational fronts. In theorising ‘extraction education’ I extend Freire’s ideas on ‘banking education’ and briefly explore dialogic, problem-posing counters to it.

Stratification and Vocationalization in Canadian Higher Education

This chapter explores recent developments in federal higher education policy in Canada. The national government’s research policy provides extensive funding primarily to a small number universities, prompting “mission creep” as some colleges seek to increase the likelihood of receiving research funding. This dynamic reinforces both the resource bases and the status of elite institutions, and so heightens stratification. At the same time, the federal government promotes “narrow” vocationalism and skills-based education in an effort to improve the employability of graduates. The resulting tension is described using Bourdieu’s (1993) metaphor of the “left-hand” and “right-hand” of the state, which pursue different and sometimes contradictory ends semi-independently of one another.

Learning about social movements through news media: deconstructing New York Times and Fox News representations of Standing Rock

ABSTRACT This article critically examines how news media, as a form of public pedagogy, functioned to ‘educate’ the public about the Standing Rock pipeline protests in North Dakota, USA. Drawing on literature in public pedagogy, social movement learning and communication studies, we employed ethnographic content analysis to identify emergent patterns, emphases and themes in all online media coverage by the New York Times and Fox News of the Standing Rock protests from April 2016 to March 2017. We analysed representations of Standing Rock in 164 NYT articles, and 96 Fox News articles, respectively. This ethnographic methodology allowed us to understand how the Standing Rock movement, its actors and meaning were constructed through the use of imagery, metaphors and emphasis on particular voices, narratives and perspectives. Our findings showed how both Fox and NYT were able to effectively frame the protest as a fundamentally human story focusing on Indigenous people, celebrities and US war veterans, and address broad-based public concerns about global climate change, water pollution and land rights. These results point to the importance of mainstream media as public pedagogue shaping social movement learning, and to the need for further research on this topic in adult education.

Adult education as corporate social responsibility in Canadian mining companies: performing the good citizen for greater self-regulation

Abstract This paper examines the underexplored role adult education activities play as part of Canadian Mining Companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. We argue that adult education as CSR provides companies with a symbolic capital they can draw upon to detract from government oversight, increase profits, and continue operations. Taking place within a structure of increased corporate power and lacking any regulatory framework, CSR is often divorced from the overall ethos of a company. Moreover, the impact of adult educational initiatives on individuals and communities remains largely unknown, highlighting the need for further research.

Conspirators in a Neo-Liberal Agenda? Adult Educators in Second-Chance Private Training Establishments.

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study that explored the impact of neo-liberal policy and ideology on educators and directors working in second-chance Private Training Establishments (PTEs) which were created at the height of the neo-liberal reforms in New Zealand. By examining the experiences of 14 educators and directors in four PTEs, this research found that although those working in second-chance PTEs are not impervious to neo-liberal discourse and policy, they do not automatically reflect a rightist agenda. While assessment, funding, outcomes, and monitoring have encouraged tutors and directors to adopt a more behaviourist approach in the classroom and in their jobs, the findings also indicate that adult educators critically examine and constantly negotiate their practice.