ERIC Number: EJ888762
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Jun
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1359-6748
EISSN: N/A
On the Impact of Government Policy on Programme Design in New Zealand Post-Compulsory Education
Govers, Elly
Research in Post-Compulsory Education, v15 n2 p141-158 Jun 2010
The impact of national education policies on programme design practice in post-compulsory education tends to be marginalised in scholarly literature. This paper reviews and analyses the literature to explore how neo-liberalist discourses introduced in tertiary education and qualifications policies in New Zealand since 1989 continue to influence programme design in polytechnics. Tensions are identified in five areas: autonomy and accountability; the programme design process; student-centred learning; concepts of knowledge; and, cultural diversity. For each area current trends are described, based on the author's analysis of very recent policies. It will be concluded that the opportunities for educators and educational institutions to exercise autonomy in programme design continue to be limited by national policy pressures to meet economic and skills needs. Courage and willingness are required if educators are ever to turn the tide and re-focus education on the development of society beyond the needs of the economy.
Descriptors: Cultural Pluralism, Foreign Countries, Public Policy, Vocational Education, Educational Policy, Postsecondary Education, Political Attitudes, Economic Development, Institutional Autonomy, Accountability, Program Design, Student Needs, Educational Needs, Skill Development
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Publication Type: Information Analyses; Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A